Standing balance control as a multi-joint coordinated movement: investigating mechanisms of its development and age-related decline

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870164
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering; Developmental mechanisms and the body works
• Research Institution: Kanagawa University (2015-2016); The University of Tokyo (2013-2014)
• Principal Investigator: Sasagawa Shun 神奈川大学, 人間科学部, 准教授 (90551565)
• Research Collaborator: OBA Naoko ; YAMAMOTO Akio
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 立位 / バランス / 制御 / 加齢 / 発育発達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to reveal (1) a neural mechanism of multi-joint control of human standing balance and (2) mechanisms responsible for its development and age-related decline. From studies conducted on healthy young participants, it was clearly demonstrated that human quiet standing is a multi-joint movement, in which multiple joints contribute to balance. At the same time, it was suggested that, by taking advantage of the inter-joint interaction occurs during multi-joint movements, the central nervous system accomplishes economical control of standing balance. From studies conducted on children and healthy elderly, it was revealed that development and age-related decline of standing balance control are accompanied by changes in structure of inter-joint coordination.

Free Research Field

神経生理学