title: The role of lateral preference of lower limbs in a postural stabilization task.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postural control is a complex skill based on the interaction of dynamic sensorimotor processes. This study assessed the effect of lateral perturbations on postural re-stabilization regarding lower limb preference.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 14 physically active individuals (9 male, 5 female) randomly underwent postural perturbations in lateral-left and lateral-right directions at a velocity of 0.2 m.s-1 and a platform shift of 6 cm. Perturbation to the preferred limb side (PS) was noted when the contralateral body movement was primarily controlled by the preferred limb and perturbation to the non-preferred limb side (NS) was noted when the contralateral body movement was primarily controlled by the non-preferred (stabilizing) limb. Prior to, during and after the perturbation centre of pressure (CoP) was registered using a computerized motor driven FiTRO Dynamic Posturography System based on force plate (Fitro Sway Check) with a sampling rate of 100 Hz. The basic stabilographic parameters of peak displacement (Peak 1), peak-to-peak displacement (Peak 2), time to peak displacement (Time 1), time to peak-to-peak displacement (Time 2) and re-stabilization time (Time 3) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed significantly larger Time 3 on PS than on NS (2.81 ± 1.32 s and 1.73 ± 1.10 s; p=0.02). However, there were no significant differences in other parameters between PS and NS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It may be concluded that the observed shorter re-stabilization time at NS was due to the stabilization role of the non-preferred limb.
authors: Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors: Zuzana
authors: Z
authors: Kovacikova
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Zemkova
authors: Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors: Katerina
authors: K
authors: Neumannova
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Jelen
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Department of Anatomy and Biomechanics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Jelen
authors: Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors: Miroslav
authors: M
authors: Janura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult