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KMID : 0608320200270020155
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Physical Therapy Korea
2020 Volume.27 No. 2 p.155 ~ p.161
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Effect on the Limit of Stability of the Lowered Center of Mass With a Weight Belt
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Phan Jimmy
Wakumoto Kaylen
Chen Jeffrey
Choi Woo-Chol
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Abstract
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Background: The consequences of falls are often debilitating, and prevention is important. In theory, the lower the center of mass (COM), the greater postural stability during standing, and a weight belt at the waist level may help to lower the COM and improve the standing balance.
Objects: We examined how the limit of stability (LOS) was affected by the lowered center of mass with the weight belt.
Methods: Twenty healthy individuals participated in the LOS test. After calculating each participant’s COM, a weight belt was fastened ten centimeters below the COM. Trials were acquired with five weight belt conditions: 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of body weight. Out-come measures included reaction time, movement velocity, endpoint excursion, maximum excursion, and directional control in 4 cardinal moving directions.
Results: None of our outcome variables were associated with a weight belt (p > 0.075), but all of them were associated with moving direction (p < 0.01). On average, movement velocity of the COM and maximum excursion were 31% and 18% greater, respectively, in mediolateral than anteroposterior direction (5.4°/s vs. 4.1°/s; 97.5% vs. 82.6%).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that postural stability was not affected by the weight-induced lowered COM, informing the development and improvement of balance training strategies.
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KEYWORD
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Balance, Center of mass, Limit of stability, Weight belt
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