Impact of Gender, Change of Base of Support, and Visual Deprivation on Postural Balance Control in Young, Healthy Subjects

Authors

  • Amine Ghram Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL – PIVOT) Network, Chicago, IL, USA Author
  • Sirine Abidi Research Laboratory Education, Motricity, Sport and Health LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9020-5912
  • Amal Ben Abdessamie Laboratory ‘Motricity, Interactions, Performance’ (EA 4334), University of Le Mans, Le Mans, France Author
  • Katja Weiss Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Author
  • Mohamed Dammak Sports Affairs Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar Author
  • Salma Jribi Nord Essonne Hospital Group, Orsay, France Author
  • Abdelmoneem Yahia Research Laboratory of Evaluation and Management of Musculoskeletal System Pathologies, LR20ES09, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia Author
  • Sameh Ghroubi Research Laboratory of Evaluation and Management of Musculoskeletal System Pathologies, LR20ES09, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia Author
  • Mohamed Habib Elleuch Research Laboratory of Evaluation and Management of Musculoskeletal System Pathologies, LR20ES09, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia Author
  • Beat Knechtle Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2412-9103

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.intjssh.4.2.4

Keywords:

Posture, Balance, Functional Symmetry, Visual Condition, Gender Differences

Abstract

Background:  Vision, vestibular sense, proprioception and muscle strength are required to maintain balance. However, gender could also play a crucial role in postural sway. Objectives:  This study was used to examine (i) the impact of gender, surface type, and vision on postural sway; (ii) the effects of gender and vision on the limb symmetry of postural sway; and (iii) to understand the effects of gender, stance, surface type and vision on the alterations of dynamic postural sway alterations. Methods:  This was a cross-sectional study in which young, healthy men (n = 15) and women (n = 12) underwent a balance control assessment using a force plate (SATEL, 40 Hz). Postural stances were evaluated in different conditions: Opened eyes (EO) and closed eyes (EC), on different surface foam vs. firm, a dominant leg stance (DL) vs. a non-dominant leg stance (NDL), and a mediolateral stance (ML) vs. an anteroposterior stance (AP). The mediolateral sway (ML sway), anteroposterior sway (AP sway), and sway area were calculated from the centre of pressure displacements. Results:  ML sway, AP sway and sway area increased when eyes were closed (P < 0.000). Foam surface perturbs balance control more than firm surface under EO and EC conditions for both genders, as observed in the AP sway curve (P < 0.000). A functional symmetry exists between the DL and NDL for all sway parameters: The ML sway, AP sway, and sway area (P = 0.720; P = 0.292; P = 0.954). The AP stance is more stable for the ML sway than the ML stance for both genders (P < 0.001). For the AP sway, the ML stance is more stable than the AP sway AP direction stance for both genders (P < 0.001). Women were significantly more stable than men in the ML stance when vision was absent (P < 0.01). Conclusions:  Postural sway was altered more significantly on a foam surface than on a firm surface and symmetry between the DL and NDL was observed. Furthermore, we concluded that women have better dynamic balance control than men.

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Published

2022-05-10

How to Cite

Ghram, A., Abidi, S., Ben Abdessamie, A., Weiss, K., Dammak, M., Jribi, S., Yahia, A., Ghroubi, S., Elleuch, M. H., & Knechtle, B. (2022). Impact of Gender, Change of Base of Support, and Visual Deprivation on Postural Balance Control in Young, Healthy Subjects. International Journal of Sport Studies for Health, 4(2), 28-37. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.intjssh.4.2.4

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