Task Priority and Postural-Suprapostural Performance: Advantages of Suprapostural-first Strategy
Journal
Formosan Journal of Physical Therapy (物理治療)
Journal Volume
39
Journal Issue
4
Pages
209
Date Issued
2014-12-01
Author(s)
Shu-Han Yu
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Postural-suprapostural task is defined as achievement of a motor/cognitive task together with successful maintenance of postural balance. However, whether postural-suprapostural performance is conditional to task priority is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect for task priority on a postural-suprapostural task. Methods: This study recruited twelve healthy young adults. Each subject was asked to execute a force-matching task (suprapostural task) while maintaining balance on a stabilometer with force-matching or postural balance as the first-priority task. Task accuracy and variability for both suprapostural and postural task were measured. Both task accuracy (force-matching error and postural error) and task variability (coefficient of variation (CV) of force output and approximate entropy (ApEn) of stabilometer movement) were measured. Results: Using suprapostural- first strategy resulted in smaller force-matching error and postural error than those by using postural-first strategy. In addition, suprapostural-first strategy resulted in higher postural variability (larger ApEn) and lower suprapostural variability (smaller CV of force output). Conclusions: Task accuracy and variability of suprapostural and postural tasks varied significantly with task priority strategies. With suprapostural-first strategy, young healthy adults could perform a postural-suprapostural task in a more efficient way and have better performance. Clinical Implications: In clinic, the difficulty of postural and suprapostural tasks should be modulated according to patients’ ability for postural-suprapostural control training. For instance, we can ask patients to stand on a disc instead of keeping balance on a stabilometer. The effect of task priority strategies could be investigated on older adults or patients with neurological disease in further studies for providing posture/motor training with proper task priority.
Publisher
社團法人臺灣物理治療學會 & Ainosco Press
Type
journal article