S-121 | Characterizing muscular and biomechanical strategies in postural control. An exploratory study

Sensory and Motor Systems
Author: Cecilia E. Saavedra Fresia | Email: csaavedra@herrera.unt.edu.ar

Cecilia E. Saavedra Fresia^1°, Leonardo Ariel Cano^1°, Celia Tagashira^1°,  Eduardo Fernandez-Jover^2°3°, Fernando Daniel Farfán^1°2°, Ana Lía Albarracín^1°

^1° Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina.
^2° Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández of Elche, Spain
^3° Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain

Introduction: Postural control requires the efficient functioning of sensorimotor mechanisms and the ability to coordinate movement strategies to stabilize the body’s center of mass during stability disturbances. However, the effectiveness of the mechanisms controlling these processes can be affected by aging, neuromuscular pathologies and neurodegenerative diseases. In this exploratory study, we investigate the muscle contractile dynamics and biomechanical strategies generated by challenging postures. Methods: Postural control was evaluated by using three items of the Berg Balance scale Scale. It was administrated in increasing difficulty and with both open and close eyes. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were obtained from specific leg and trunk muscles involved in balance control and synchronized with IMU and plantar sensors to extract biomechanical information. Results: This experimental approach allowed to characterize muscle dynamic contraction under different postural conditions with and without visual information. We have found that different strategies and specific modulations were required for controlling balance in high demanding postures. Intermittent muscle activity along the postural tasks was observed specially in the muscles of the dominant leg. Conclusions: In this study we describe characteristic oscillatory modulations and synergistic activations as motor strategies for maintaining the balance after a demanding postural condition.