The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of localized muscle fatigue and whole body fatigue on postural control during single-leg stance after impairment induced by heel raise and the Harvard step test. Thirty-eight university students (19 men: age, 20 ) were participated in this study. Subjects performed a series of single-leg postural tasks prior to, following, and 24 hours after completing: heel raise or the Harvard step test. This study showed that the root mean squared distance and velocity in the anteroposterior and mediolateral planes of the center of pressure decreased significantly due to heel raise exercise-induced fatigue. Furthermore, the root mean squared distance in the anteroposterior and mediolateral planes, and the 95% confidence ellipse area of the center of pressure also decreased significantly 24 hours after completing the Harvard step test. In conclusion, this study showed that both heel raise exercise-and Harvard step exercise-induced fatigue affects postural control during single-leg stance in AP and ML planes. Furthermore, this study suggests that changes in the postural control strategy may have occurred after the fatigue protocols during single-leg stance. Also vision can attenuate the postural deficits associated with the fatigues. In order to clarify these results, further studies using other equipment and variables are necessary.

This case study was conducted to determine the effects of water exercise on the foot pressure distribution (FPD) of persons who have a hemiplegia. A 43-year old female with hemiplegia acquired at the age of 3 years was selected from a local disability program. A 12-week water exercise program (60 min. per session and twice a week) focusing on gait training was developed and implemented as the intervention of this study. A recent product of the Pedar-X (Novel, Germany) was used to measure the FPD of hemiplegic gait before and after the intervention. Variables considered in this study included the average pressure (AP), contact area (CA), maximum pressure (MP), ground reaction force (GRF), and center of pressure (COP). The data collected were analyzed via the descriptive statistics and qualitative analyses on the graphical presentations of the FPD. Results revealed that the AP and CA of the hemiplegic foot was considerably increased before and after the intervention. Similar results were also found in the MP and GRF. Additionally, the graphical route of the COP related to hemiplegic foot was changed in a positive way after the intervention. It can be concluded that water exercise may be beneficial to restore hemiplegic gait. Limitations related to measurement and generalizability are further discussed.