Class: BE310
Group: M3
Members:Marisa Kastner, Anoop Kowshik, Jared Shoemaker, Esther Wong
Date: May, 2002
Abstract:
Postural stability of the back is a useful biomarker. In
the past, postural stability has been measured by correlating body sway
to force plate measurements. The effects of various stimuli on postural
stability have also been studied. In this experiment, a dual- axis
accelerometer was used to measure postural stability and how it is affected
by visual and somatosensory stimuli. A dual-axis accelerometer allows
for measurement along two different axes simultaneously. Therefore,
deviations in angle in both the lateral and sagittal planes could be recorded.
Subjects were instructed to stand in positions minimizing the stability
in the particular plane being tested. For testing visual stimuli,
subjects were tested with eyes both open and closed. For testing
somatosensory stimuli, subjects were tested while touching a smooth surface
at non-mechanically supportive forces in the unstable plane. As hypothesized,
visual and somatosensory stimuli improved the postural stability of the
subjects.