A Dynamic Equilibrium Examination on Stabilometry (Foulage test)^|^mdash;Physiological Character of Normal Subjects^|^mdash;

Abstract

This report is a preparatory study for a new dynamic equilibrium examination, the "Foulage test". Subjects step on the center of a stabilometer, keeping both toes constantly in contact with the plate, and lifting up only the heels alternately. Subjects had to accurately keep up a tempo of 120 beats per minute (BPM 120) as set by an electric metronome. The examination time was 60 seconds, 120 steps, with eyes open and closed.Sixteen healthy volunteers (8 men, 8 women, 24 to 55 years old, mean 36 years old) were tested with their eyes in the open and closed condition, changing the height of heels, from lower than 1 cm to almost 12 cm. 12 subjects were tested 5 times, 3 subjects were tested 6 times and also one volunteer, a 45-year-old healthy man, performed the test 16 times to get fine data. As the heels rose up, the locus was enlarged side to side and bent at the center like an inverted 'V' shape (Λ). The locus length was enlarged as the heels were raised higher, believed to reflect the activity of the subject. On the other hand the width of the locus band, front to back, was almost the same under conditions of stepping stably. However, if the subject swayed, this distance might increase. The total locus length (L) and the environed area (A) were investigated. The long length of the locus "Λ" shaped band was nearly the distance of one step. The subjects were stepping 120 times, therefore

Differences between Tempos of Step Error and Postural Sway in the Stipulated Tempo Step Test for Children and Their Relationships

“…Demura et al (2001) reported significant and high relationships among postural sway variables regarding distance, area, and speed (above 0.90). Yasuda et al (2012) reported high correlations among sway variables during stipulated tempo stepping (r 2 = 0.88). Stepping with the 40 bpm tempo has a long sway distance due to the long supporting time of a single leg, leading to a large sway area, whereas stepping with the 120 bpm tempo has a short sway distance due to the short supporting time, leading to a small sway area.…”

“…Meanwhile, relationships among postural sway variables during static standing (Demura et al, 2001) or their fluctuations during static standing with eyes open or closed (Smith et al, 2012;Apthorp et al, 2014;Walters-Stewart et al, 2018) have been examined. Yasuda et al (2012) examined their relationships during stepping with the 120 bpm tempo and reported that high relationships are found. Uchida and Nagura (2014) examined their relationships when ascending/descending steps and while one-leg standing.…”