Otake Y1, Fukui T1
1Bunkyo Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
Background: The toes which are the only parts to move are important role for stability while standing. Previous studies showed that the dysfunction of the toes was considered to cause instability during balance of the body, but the details of it were unclear.
On the other hand, Rowly and colleagues had reported that dancers showed significantly greater strength of toe flexor than that of non dancers. It seems that dancers were required a high level of postural control.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the toes in posture control with dancers compared to that of non dancers. We examined the relationship between the toe flexor strength and COP positions in the measurement of IPS (:Index of Postural Stability). Additionally output control variables (jerk-value) were compared between two groups by using a toe-grip dynamometer and a force plate.
Methods: Subject were 23 healthy females including university dance major students (dancers: n=15) and age-matched controls (non dancers: n=8) without having any dance experiences. We measured IPS which was assessing postural stability during standing. The area of stability limit and the area of postural sway were calculated and used for analysis. Toe flexor muscle strength was measured using a toe-grip dynamometer (TKK.3360, Takei Co Ltd, Japan). Subjects performed three maximum effort trials and the best value was adopted. Additionally, they were asked to control their toe flexor strength gradually ranging from 0% to 50% of maximum strength. The jerk value was calculated by how smoothly force product was used. We also examined associations among these measurements by t-test and the pearson's correlation coefficients.
Results: There were weak correlation between the maximum toe strength and the area of stability limit(p=0.06) and jerk values and the area of stability limit(p=0.06). The toe flexor strength was significantly higher value with dancers(p 0.01). And the area of stability limit and the front area of postural sway was significantly greater with dancers(p 0.05). Nevertheless, no significant IPS difference were found between 2groups. The jerk values of dancers showed slight small with dancers relative to non dancers.
Conclusion(s): We founded that there were various way for balance control. Dancers showed higher control abilities. This result may have the relationship between flexor strength and greater postural stability.
Those who had smooth control force production of toe could move their COP in broad area although it was so unstable due to the area of postural sway was wide. The smooth use of toe strength may have the role of postural stability.
Implications: This study suggested that toe flexion strength training with smooth control will be important to maintain balance and get more stable movement.
Keywords: toe flexion strength, force production, postural stability
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists B) [grant numbers 17K18068]
On the other hand, Rowly and colleagues had reported that dancers showed significantly greater strength of toe flexor than that of non dancers. It seems that dancers were required a high level of postural control.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the toes in posture control with dancers compared to that of non dancers. We examined the relationship between the toe flexor strength and COP positions in the measurement of IPS (:Index of Postural Stability). Additionally output control variables (jerk-value) were compared between two groups by using a toe-grip dynamometer and a force plate.
Methods: Subject were 23 healthy females including university dance major students (dancers: n=15) and age-matched controls (non dancers: n=8) without having any dance experiences. We measured IPS which was assessing postural stability during standing. The area of stability limit and the area of postural sway were calculated and used for analysis. Toe flexor muscle strength was measured using a toe-grip dynamometer (TKK.3360, Takei Co Ltd, Japan). Subjects performed three maximum effort trials and the best value was adopted. Additionally, they were asked to control their toe flexor strength gradually ranging from 0% to 50% of maximum strength. The jerk value was calculated by how smoothly force product was used. We also examined associations among these measurements by t-test and the pearson's correlation coefficients.
Results: There were weak correlation between the maximum toe strength and the area of stability limit(p=0.06) and jerk values and the area of stability limit(p=0.06). The toe flexor strength was significantly higher value with dancers(p 0.01). And the area of stability limit and the front area of postural sway was significantly greater with dancers(p 0.05). Nevertheless, no significant IPS difference were found between 2groups. The jerk values of dancers showed slight small with dancers relative to non dancers.
Conclusion(s): We founded that there were various way for balance control. Dancers showed higher control abilities. This result may have the relationship between flexor strength and greater postural stability.
Those who had smooth control force production of toe could move their COP in broad area although it was so unstable due to the area of postural sway was wide. The smooth use of toe strength may have the role of postural stability.
Implications: This study suggested that toe flexion strength training with smooth control will be important to maintain balance and get more stable movement.
Keywords: toe flexion strength, force production, postural stability
Funding acknowledgements: This work was supported by KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists B) [grant numbers 17K18068]
Topic: Human movement analysis; Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: The Faculty of Health Science Technoligy
Ethics committee: The research ethics committees of Bunkyo Gakuin University
Ethics number: 2018-0002
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
