The Effect of 80 dB Environmental Noise on Control of Posture in Healthy Young Adults

• Published in: Human factors and ergonomics in manufacturing & service industries Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 213 - 221
• Main Authors: Bateni, H., Vaizasatya, A., Blaschak, M. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Balance; Central nervous system; Environmental noise; Ergonomics; Motor ability; Noise; Noise pollution; Postural control; Posture; Work safety; Working conditions; Young adults
• ISSN: 1090-8471; 1520-6564
• DOI: 10.1002/hfm.20310

The ability to control movement of the center of mass (COM) plays a vital role in control of posture. Traditionally, visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems are considered sources of information provided to the central nervous system to control posture. Recently, other environmental stimuli that can indirectly affect postural control have been taken into consideration. One in particular is excessive environmental noise that may exist in some working conditions (e.g., construction sites, assembly lines, food‐processing plants). We examined postural performance of 16 healthy young adults (21 to 26 years old) while being exposed to a computer‐generated 80‐dB intermittent white noise. Participants were tested for their ability to keep their COM static in three conditions of eyes open‐static platform (SEO), eyes closed‐static platform (SEC), and eyes open‐dynamic platform (DYN). Their limits of stability (LOS) also were tested to identify their ability to shift their COM to the borders of an area representing 50% of their base of support. Our results indicated that white noise at the level of 80 dB does not influence either the ability to hold the COM static or the precision to shift COM toward the borders of the base of support. We concluded that environmental noise at the level of 80 dB does not have a short‐term effect on postural control in a normal standing posture. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.