title: Suprapostural effects of light digital touch on the modulation of postural sway can be modified by fingertip sensitivity.
abstract: We investigated whether the suprapostural effects of light digital touch on the modulation of postural sway can be modifiedby fingertip sensitivity. To achieve this, we recruitedthree types of athleteswith various fingertip sensitivity levels, including swimmers (high sensitivity), basketball players (intermediate sensitivity), and rowers (low sensitivity). We recorded the center of pressure (COP) excursions in 21 swimmers (20.57±0.42years), 22 basketball players (20.79±0.75years), and 22 rowers (20.32±0.49years) during light-touch (LT) and precision light-touch (PLT) conditions. In the LT conditions, participants touched a force plate while standing with their feet shoulder-width apart. In the PLT condition, participants were instructed to precisely touch a fixed point on the plate. Compared to the LT condition, the execution of the PLT condition significantly reduced the magnitude of COP excursion in the AP axis for all groups. This effect was most pronounced in swimmers, followed by basketball players, then rowers. These findings suggest that the suprapostural effects of precision light-touch on postural control can be modified as a function of fingertip sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, 116, Heping 1st Road, Kaohsiung City 802, Taiwan. Electronic address: fcchen@mail.nknu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Fu-Chen
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, 116, Heping 1st Road, Kaohsiung City 802, Taiwan. Electronic address: cypan@nknucc.nknu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chien-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, National Pingtung University, 4-18, Minsheng Road, Pingtung City 900,Taiwan. Electronic address: tu.juihung@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jui-Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Education, Health & Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, 1, Daxue Road, East District, Tainan City 701, Taiwan. Electronic address: andytsai@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chia-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280, Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S4L8, Canada. Electronic address: li427@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Yao-Chuen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Athletes; Fingertip sensitivity; Light touch; Postural sway; Suprapostural effects