Is the spinal column a rigid or articulated axis during leg movement?

Author(s): Mesure, S., Lizee, E., Landjerit, B., Massion, J.

Journal/Book: Hum Movement Sci. 1998; 17: PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands. Elsevier Science BV. 289-306.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the postural adjustments associated with a leg movement observed at the spinal column level in order to stabilize the vertical orientation of the head or head-trunk axes. Two different strategies of shifting the projection of the center of gravity to the supporting leg were described in untrained subjects and in professional dancers. In order to obtain some information about the inter-segmental coordination, the correlations between the ankle, hip and spinal column joints were calculated. The close coupling between hip and ankle joints found in dancers was interpreted as a sign of highly developed control and a decrease in the number of degrees of freedom in the system. In this strategy, the upper part of the spinal column was stabilized in the vertical axis and behaved like a ''shock absorber''. No effect of eye closing and blurred vision was observed in the strategy used. .

Note: Article Mouchnino L, Fac Sci Sport, Umr Mouvement & Percept, Lab Movement & Percept, CP 910, 163 Ave Luminy, F-13288 Marseille 9, FRANCE

Keyword(s): dancers; postural adjustments; degrees of freedom; HEAD STABILIZATION; UPPER-BODY; POSTURE; COORDINATION; STANCE; MODEL; EQUILIBRIUM; BALANCE; SUPPORT; HUMANS

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