Characteristics of Reactive Step Induced by an Inclined Platform Backward Fall: A Preliminary Study to Design a Portable Perturbation Training Platform

Abstract

The current perturbation-based balance training (PBT) devices are not portable. Perturbating single-leg devices can be conceptualized and these devices can cause a height difference between the supporting and reactive leg. This cross-sectional study investigated the influence of an inclined platform perturbation on the characteristics of reactive steps. This study included forty-six healthy participants who performed a ‘lean and release’ backward fall using two different inclined platforms on each side. The Kinovea software measured the step width. The influence of the inclined platform on targeting a single leg to perform a reactive step was examined using Fisher’s Test. The ANOVA test and Tukey’s post hoc analysis analyzed the influence of the inclined platform on step width. The inclined platform influenced the reactive leg (p<.0001) and the increase in platform inclination has exerted a greater influence on targeting a reactive leg (p<.0001). The step width was influenced by the inclined platform (p<.0001), and for a given side, a differently inclined platform produced different step widths. These findings could assist trainers to aim the leg to be trained, and the crossover step training can be exercised by varying the degree of inclination of the platform.

Note:
Funding Information: This research did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of Interests: There is no conflict of interest to disclose.

Ethical Approval: The Institutional Ethics Committee of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center (IEC.NO.1678) had approved this study and all the participants gave informed consent to take part in this study.

Keywords: 1.Loss of balance2.Reactive response3.Perturbation4.Posture5.Falls