Background: Theoretically, balance is affected by the height of center of mass (COM) during quiet standing. However, no one examined this in humans with variables derived from the center of pressure (COP). Objects: We have conducted balance experiment to measure COP data during quiet standing, in order to examine how the COP measures were affected by the height of COM, vision, floor conditions, and gender. Methods: Twenty individuals stood still with feet together and arms at sides for 30 seconds on a force plate. Trials were acquired with three COM heights: 1% increased or decreased, and not changed, with two vision conditions: eyes closed (EC) and eyes open (EO), and with two floor conditions: unstable (foam pad) and stable (force plate) floor. Outcome variables included the mean distance, root mean square distance, total excursion, mean velocity, and 95% confidence circle area. Results: All outcome variables were associated with the COM height (p < 0.0005), vision (p < 0.0005), and floor condition (p < 0.003). The mean velocity and 95% confidence circle area were 5.7% and 21.8% greater, respectively, in raised COM than in lowered COM (24.6 versus 23.2 mm/s; 1,013.4 versus 832.3 mm2). However, there were no interactions between the COM height and vision condition (p > 0.096), and between the COM height and floor condition (p > 0.183) for all outcome variables. Furthermore, there was no gender difference in all outcome variables (p > 0.186). Conclusion: Balance was affected by the change of COM height induced by a weight belt in human. However, the effect was not affected by vision or floor condition. Our results should inform the design of balance exercise program to improve the outcome of the balance training.

Background: Although symmetry of spatio-temporal parameter and center of pressure (COP) shift during walking is associated with knee adduction moment, research on clinical association with knee osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee pain and functional scores is lacking. Objects: The aims were 1) to compare symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift in patients with unilateral knee OA and pain and matched controls, and 2) to investigate the relationship between symmetry of gait parameters and COP-shift, and clinical measures. Methods: Female subjects (n = 16) had with unilateral radiological knee OA and pain. Healthy controls (n = 15) were age-matched to OA group. Symmetry of foot rotation, step length, stance and swing phase, lateral symmetry of COP and anterior/posterior symmetry of COP during walking was assessed. To assess the clinical variables, pain intensity, pain duration and function using Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey (KOOS) subscales were collected. We compared symmetry between groups using Mann–Whitney U-test or independent t-test. Relationships between clinical measures and symmetry index measured using Spearman’s correlation test. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: Knee OA group showed significantly greater values of only lateral symmetry of COP (p < 0.01) than healthy group. Values of lateral symmetry of COP had moderate or strong correlation significantly with the intensity of knee pain, pain duration, and scores of all KOOS subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with unilateral knee OA and pain showed more asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking compared with matched healthy controls. In addition, larger asymmetry of lateral COP-shift has the moderate or strong association with worse of knee pain, worse in KOOS scores and longer duration of knee pain. Asymmetry of lateral COP-shift during walking may be one of the characteristics of unilateral knee OA as the compensatory strategy response to unilateral OA of the knee.

Background: Patients with low back pain (LBP) experience misalignments in the center of pressure (COP) and muscle imbalances due to frequent onesided posture adjustments to avoid pain. Objectives: To identify the effects of Squat Exercises with Vertical Whole-Body Vibration on the Center of Pressure and Trunk Muscle Activity. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty LBP patients with an imbalance in the COP were sampled and randomly assigned to an experimental group of 15 patients who under went an intervention involving squat exercises with vertical WBV and a control group of 15 patients who were treated via a walking intervention. As pretests before the interventions, the subjects’ COP was identified by measuring their stability index (ST), and erector spinae, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, gluteus medius muscle activity was analyzed by determining the % reference voluntary contraction (%RVC) value using surface electromyography while sit to stand. After four weeks, a post test was conducted to remeasure the same variables using the same methods. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the ST (P<.01) and trunk muscle (P<.05, P<.001) in the experimental group before and after the intervention. In terms of the differences between the left- and right-side (RL) muscle activity, only the transverse abdominis (TrA) and gluteus medius (GM) exhibited statistically significant increase (P<.05). A comparison of the groups showed statistically significant differences in the TrA with respect to muscle activity (P<.05) and in the RLTrA and RLGM in terms ofthe difference between left- and right-side muscle activity (P<.01). Conclusion: Squat exercises with vertical WBV produced effective changes in the COP of patients with LBP by reducing muscle imbalances through the delivery of a uniform force. In particular, strengthening the TrA and reducing an imbalance in the GM were determined to be important factors in improving the COP.

본 연구의 목적은 유도 허벅다리걸기 기술 발휘 시 발목 관절의 테이핑 처치가 하지 관절과 압 력중심(COP, center of pressure)에 미치는 영향을 분석하는데 있었다. 대학 유도 선수 20명(연령, 20.9±0.8세; 신장, 168.6±7.4cm; 체중, 73.5±11.6kg; 신체질량지수, 25.7±2.6kg/m2)이 참여하였으며, 발목 관절 테이핑 처치 전과 후의 2가지 조건에서 허벅다리걸기 기술 발휘 시 지지다리 관절의 각도와 압 력중심 요인을 분석하여 다음의 결과를 도출하였다. E2(t=2.411, p=.027) E4(t=2.388, p=.029)시점에서 발목 관절의 각도는 테이핑 처지 전에 비해 처치 후 발목의 각도가 통계적으로 적은 수치를 나타내었고, E2(t=-2.343, p=.032) E3(t=-4.531, p=.000)시점에서 힙 관절의 각도는 통계적으로 크게 나타났다. 그리 고 발목 관절 테이핑 처치 후 좌·우의 COP 이동은 상대를 메치는 P3 국면에서 통계적으로 크게 나타났으 며(t=2.670, p=.016), 전·후의 COP 이동은 상대의 무게 중심을 기울이는 P1 국면에서 통계적으로 적은 수 치를 나타내었다(t=2.846, p=.011). 그러므로 허벅다리걸기를 특기로 사용하는 유도 선수들은 발목 관절 테이핑으로 인해 발생하는 지지관절의 운동 기능과 COP의 이동범위를 고려하여 사용하는 것에 대하여 제 안하고자 한다.

Background: Stroke patients have leg muscle weakness and impaired balance resulting in compensatory changes. To restore balance in these patients, functional training using postural strategy is needed. Objective: To examine the effects of ankle and hip strategy training on the center of pressure (COP) movement and limits of stability (LOS) in standing posture in stroke patients. Design: The study was an assessor-blinded and randomized-controlled clinical trial. Methods: Thirty patients were randomly assigned to an ankle strategy training group and a ankle/ hip strategy training group. Patients in the ankle strategy training group underwent ankle strategy exercise for 30 min, and those in the ankle/ hip strategy training group underwent 15 min of ankle strategy exercise and 15 min of hip strategy exercise. Both groups underwent training thrice a week for four weeks. Forward, backward, paretic side, and non-paretic side COP movements and LOS were measured using BioRescue. Results: After the intervention, except for the backward area in the ankle strategy training group, the COP movement area and the LOS were significantly improved in both the groups. In addition, these improvements were significantly higher in ankle/ hip strategy training group than that in the ankle strategy training group. Conclusions: Ankle strategy training in addition to hip strategy training improves COP movement (forward-backward, paretic side area, and nonparetic side area) and LOS in stroke patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the surface area and velocity of center of pressure (COP) during one leg standing by stimulating the sensory system in normal adults. Thirty subjects were enrolled in this study. Subjects were asked to stand on one leg during testing conditions. Testing conditions included 6 different sensory stimulations as follows: eyes opened, eyes closed, eyes opened with vibrator, eyes opened with head-mounted display (HMD), eyes opened with vibrator and HMD, and eyes closed with vibrator. During each testing condition, the surface area and velocity of center of pressure were measured. There were significant differences in the mean surface area and the mean velocity of COP between the “eyes opened” condition and the other five testing conditions (p<.05). However, in the comparison between the “eyes closed” and “eyes opened with HMD” conditions, there were no significant differences in the tested parameters. This study shows that closing eyes or keeping eyes opened while using HMD to experience virtual reality has the same effect on one leg standing balance. This finding should be considered in the evaluation or intervention of balance, especially one leg standing balance and balance while standing with a small base of support.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gait initiation training on gait and center of pressure (CoP) during gait initiation in stroke patients. Twenty-three subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG) or a control group (CG). The EG received gait initiation training with increased CoP posterior distances the maximum the rear on gait training. The CG received general gait training. Both groups received training three times a week over a period of four consecutive weeks. The figures for CoP distances the maximum the rear, CoP distances time the mover the maximum the rear, the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), and gait velocity were recorded both before and after the training sessions for both groups. The EG’s results for CoP distances the maximum the rear, CoP distances time the mover the maximum the rear, and POMA improved after training (p<.05). In terms of the rate of change of CoP distances the maximum the rear, the EG demonstrated a significantly higher increase (p<.05) than did the CG. The results of this study suggest that increased CoP distances the maximum the rear affect the gait initiation and gait performance of stroke patients. Further studies with a larger sample size are necessary to verify the accuracy of the results of this study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization on both trunk and lower limb muscle activity and center of pressure (COP) in single leg standing. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to collect muscle activity data, the mean velocity of COP was measured using a force plate, and a pressure biofeedback unit was used for lumbar stabilization training. The findings of this study are summarized as follows: 1) The EMG activity of the erector spinae decreased significantly and the activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, gluteus maximus, and gluteus medius increased significantly with lumbar stabilization single leg standing. 2) No differences in activity in the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, and medial hamstrings were found with single leg standing. 3) The mean velocity of COP in the antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions in the lumbar stabilization single leg standing decreased significantly compared with the preferred single leg standing. The findings of this study therefore indicate that lumbar stabilization can facilitate the co-activation of deep stabilization and global muscles that improve postural control capability during single leg standing.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of the center of pressure (COP) trajectory in healthy elderly subjects while crossing an obstacle before and after participation in Tai Chi training. Forty healthy elderly subjects participated either in a 12-week intervention of Tai Chi training or in a health education program. The participants were divided into two groups (the experimental group and the control group). Subsequently, the participants were pre- and post-tested on crossing over an obstacle from a quiet stance. Participants in the experimental group received Tai Chi training that emphasized the smooth integration of trunk rotation, a shift in weight bearing from bilateral to unilateral support and coordination and a gradual narrowing of the lower-extremity stance three times weekly. The participants in the control group attended a health education program one hour weekly and heard lectures about general information to promote health. Performance was assessed by recording the changes in the displacement of the COP in the anteroposterior (A-P) and mediolateral (M-L) directions using a force platform. Participants in the Tai Chi group significantly increased the A-P and M-L displacement of the COP after Tai Chi training (p<.05). No significant differences in the A-P and the M-L displacement of the COP between pre-testing and post-testing in the control group were found. This study has shown that participation in Tai Chi exercise increased the magnitude of the A-P and M-L displacement of the COP, thereby improving the ability of healthy elderly participation to generate momentum to initiate gait. These findings support the use of Tai Chi training as an effective fall-prevention program for the elderly.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how COP displacement of a hemiplegic foot in stance phase during gait is related to clinical balance measures and the recovery stage in hemiplegic stroke patients. Twenty-eight functionally ambulant hemiplegic patients who had suffered from strokes and thirty age-matched healthy subjects participated in this study. COP parameters were calculated. Clinical balance was measured using the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). The recovery stage, proprioception, and clonus of the ankles or lower extremities were also measured for physical impairment status. The COPx max-displacement in the medial-lateral side of the stroke patients was significantly longer than that of the normal group (p=.038). The COPy max-displacement in the anterior-posterior side of the stroke patients was significantly shorter than that of normal group (p<.001). Significant differences in the COPx and COPy displacement asymmetry index were found between the two groups (p<.01). The FRT was correlated with the COPx displacement (r=.552) and COPy displacement (r=.765). The TUGT was correlated with the COPy displacement (r=-.588) only. The recovery stage of the lower extremities was correlated with COPy displacement (r=.438). The results of the study indicate that the characteristic of COP displacement in hemiplegic feet in stance phase during gait is related to balance ability and recovery in stroke patients. COP parameters acquired by the mapping of foot pressure in stance phase during gait will provide additional useful clinical information. This information can be used by clinicians to assess objectively the pathologic gait with other diseases and to evaluate the therapeutic effects on gait in stroke patients.