Comparison of the ankle, knee, hip, and trunk corrective action shown during single-leg stance on firm, foam, and multiaxial surfaces

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 90 - 95
• Main Authors: Riemann, Bryan L., Myers, Joseph B., Lephart, Scott M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Ankle Joint - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Hip Joint - physiology; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Knee Joint - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Postural Balance - physiology; Biomechanics; Human; Healthy subject; Kinematics; Exploration; Rehabilitation; Experimental study; Postural fitting; Equilibrium; Posture
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1053/apmr.2003.50004

Riemann BL, Myers JB, Lephart SM. Comparison of the ankle, knee, hip, and trunk corrective action show during single-leg stance on firm, foam, and multiaxial surfaces. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:90-5. Objective: To compare the quantity of ankle, knee, hip, and trunk corrective actions shown during single-leg stance. Design: Counter-balanced crossover design. Single-leg stance under the conditions of eyes open on firm, foam, and multiaxial surfaces and eyes closed on a firm surface were recorded for 12 seconds in 18 participants. Setting: A university neuromuscular research laboratory. Participants: Eighteen healthy and recreationally active college students. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure: Average angular displacement magnitude between successive sampling instances for the ankle, knee, hip, and trunk. Results: A significant condition by joint interaction was revealed. Post hoc comparisons revealed that the ankle dominated as the source of corrective action across each of the testing conditions. As the challenge became greater because of foam surface or eyes closed, more corrective action occurred at proximal joints (hip and/or knee). Conclusions: The ankle is of primary importance during single-leg stance on firm, foam, and multiaxial surfaces, with proximal joints having an increased role under more challenging conditions. These results provide a scientific basis for clinicians' and researchers' decisions about support surface and visual condition during single-leg postural control testing and training. [copy ] 2003 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation