Relation of Physical Activity Level to Postural Balance in Obese and Overweight Spanish Adult Males: A Cross-Sectional Study

Stabilometry in Relation to Hip and Knee Muscle Force in Children with Surgically Treated Unilateral Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The main aim of our study was to analyze the stabilometric parameters in relation to hip and knee muscle force in children with unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) who had undergone surgical treatment. Another objective was to compare the stabilometry in three testing situations (eyes open, eyes closed, and head retroflexed).

METHODS

In total, 26 patients with unilateral right SCFE treated via in situ fixation with one percutaneous screw performed stabilometry assessments under three different situations (with their eyes open, with their eyes closed, and with their head retroflexed) and isometric muscle force assessment of the bilateral hip flexors, extensors, abductors and adductors and bilateral knee flexors and extensors.

RESULTS

No significant differences between the right side (affected hip) and left side (non-affected hip) were recorded for all of the tested muscle groups. We found significant negative correlations between the 90% confidence ellipse area (eyes open condition) and left knee extensors (p = 0.028), right knee flexors (p = 0.041), and left knee flexors (p = 0.02), respectively. When performing the comparison between the eyes open and eyes closed situations, there were significant differences in CoP path length (p < 0.0001) and maximum CoP speed (p = 0.048); the parameters increased in the eyes closed situation.

CONCLUSIONS

Better postural stability is acquired when assessed with eyes open or with the head retroflexed in contrast with eyes closed testing.

Biological sex-related differences in whole-body coordination during standing turns in healthy young adults

Biological sexes (male and female) have been reported to influence postural control and balance due to differences in musculoskeletal structures, hormonal factors, and neuromuscular control. These factors can contribute to the turning performance, potentially leading to an increased incidence of falls, particularly during turning. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the whole-body coordination and stepping characteristics and during standing turns in healthy adults to determine the effects of biological sex and turn speed. Fifty participants (25 males and 25 females) completed 180° standing turns on level ground. Inertial Measurement Units (XSENS) were used to measure whole-body movement turning kinematics and stepping characteristics. Moreover, clinical outcome of dynamic balance was measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG). Participants were randomly tasked to turn at three speeds; fast, moderate, or slow to the left and right sides. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the independent variables between male and females, and Friedman tests with Dunn's tests for pairwise comparisons were used to compare between the three turning speeds within the two groups. The results demonstrated that significant differences were seen between males and females during fast turning for the leading foot onset (p = 0.048) and in the slow speed for the total step (p = 0.033), showing that these were greater in female with an increase in turn speed. In addition, significant differences were seen only in the males when comparing different speeds in the trailing foot onset latency (p = 0.035), step size (p = 0.009), and total number of steps (p = 0.002), while in the females a significant difference was found in peak head yaw velocity between fast and slow turn speeds, and moderate and slow turn speeds. Finally, there was no significant difference in TUG between groups. Therefore, these findings show differences between biological sexes in the response to whole-body coordination and step characteristics, indicating that females tend to have more changes in stepping characteristics compared to males due to differences in turning speed. This can affect their balance and stability. However, the differences in biological sex did not impact the dynamic balance and fall risk due to the lack of a significant difference shown by TUG between males and females.

Relationship between physical activity level and sleep quality with postural control and hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex during dual-task performance

Understanding the cortical activation and postural control behavior during dual-task (DT) has been an object of study. However, despite the multiple benefits of exercise and good sleep quality, less is known about the correlation between physical activity (PA) and sleep quality (SQ) on postural control and brain activation under dual-task performance. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between PA level and SQ with postural control performance and hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex during the DT performance in young adults. Thirty-four healthy young adults (mean age ± SD = 22.91 ± 3.90 years) participated in this study, and they performed a single-task and cognitive and motor DT using their smartphones. Postural control was assessed using a force plate to record the center of pressure (CoP) data (total excursion of CoP (TOTEX CoP), displacements of the CoP in anterior-posterior (CoP-AP) and medial-lateral (CoP-ML) directions, mean total velocity displacement of CoP (MVELO CoP), mean displacement velocity of CoP in anterior-posterior (MVELO CoP-AP) and medial-lateral (MVELO CoP-ML) directions, amplitude of CoP in anterior-posterior (A-AP) and medial-lateral (A-ML) directions, and 95% confidence ellipse sway area (CEA)). The hemodynamic response was measured by the oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentrations using the functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form questionnaires assessed SQ and level of PA, respectively. Results indicated a positive correlation between SQ and cognitive DT cost for CoP-ML (r_s = 0.422, p = 0.013), MVELO CoP-ML (r_s = 0.422, p = 0.013) and A-ML (r_s = 0.579, p < 0.001). There were no significant relations between the other outcomes (p > 0.05). In conclusion, poor sleep quality was associated with a worse postural control performance in CoP-ML, MVELO CoP-ML and A-ML parameters under cognitive dual-task conditions. The differences found in the postural control and hemodynamic response during dual-task performance do not correlate with physical activity level.

Postural Balance in Relation with Vision and Physical Activity in Healthy Young Adults

Postural balance is an essential part of a wide range of activities, from daily living tasks to sports. Regularly repeated physical and/or sport activities improve both the postural performance and the postural strategy. The aim of our study was to evaluate if the physical activity level is a factor that influences postural balance performance, including the impact of vision and gender, in healthy young adults. Postural balance was assessed in 78 subjects (38 males and 40 females, aged 20.64 ± 1.18 years) by using the PoData system, in open (EO) and closed (EC) eye conditions. Based on the physical activity level, subjects were classified in two groups—low physical activity level (n = 36, 46.15%) and moderate physical activity level (n = 42, 53.85%). A group significant difference was found only for the average centre of pressure (CoP) deviations on the latero-lateral axis (CoP_X), with a higher lateral deviation of the CoP (toward right) in the low physical activity group (F = 4.005, p = 0.04). CoP path length, the 90% confidence ellipse and maximum CoP speed were significantly increased in EC conditions. A statistically significant interaction effect (vision × physical activity) was observed for the CoP path length (F = 7.9, p = 0.006).