Postural sway following prolonged exposure to an inclined surface.

Fatal and non-fatal falls from elevation have been documented to be a significant issue. Historically, roofing work has been ranked among the highest in incidents of falls. Recent literature has indicated that exposure to inclined surfaces (roof) has a detrimental effect on postural stability. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine if postural instability was found to increase following extended exposure to an inclined surface. Twenty-three participants were pre/post tested under four postural stability conditions while varying duration exposure (0.0-2.0 h) to an inclined surface. Dependent variable postural sway measures were calculated from center of pressure data derived from a portable force plate. The results indicate significant differences between pre and post-exposure measures. Specifically, the results imply that an individual is less stable directly after performing tasks on an inclined surface. These findings contribute to the literature and serve as a basis for further research into work rest cycles for those individuals who routinely work on inclined surfaces.

[1]  H Hsiao,et al.  Preventing falls from roofs: a critical review , 2001, Ergonomics.

[2]  Jerry Davis,et al.  Effect on Flat Surface Postural Stability following Extended Durations on a Pitched Roof Setting , 2003 .

[3]  D. Elliott,et al.  Postural stability in the elderly during sensory perturbations and dual tasking: the influence of refractive blur. , 2003, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[4]  R. Edwards,et al.  Human muscle function and fatigue. , 2008, Ciba Foundation symposium.

[5]  Jerry Davis,et al.  Effect of personal protective eyewear on postural stability , 2004, Ergonomics.

[6]  N. Vuillerme,et al.  Effect of light finger touch on postural sway after lower-limb muscular fatigue. , 2003, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[7]  V. Dietz.  Human neuronal control of automatic functional movements: interaction between central programs and afferent input. , 1992, Physiological reviews.

[8]  M. Redfern,et al.  Visual influences on balance. , 2001, Journal of anxiety disorders.

[9]  S. Simon,et al.  The effect of fatigue on multijoint kinematics, coordination, and postural stability during a repetitive lifting test. , 1997, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[10]  R. Blasier,et al.  The Effects of Muscle Fatigue on Shoulder Joint Position Sense , 1998, The American journal of sports medicine.

[11]  H. Barbeau,et al.  Postural adaptation to walking on inclined surfaces: I. Normal strategies. , 2002, Gait & posture.

[12]  R. B. Johnston,et al.  Effect of lower extremity muscular fatigue on motor control performance. , 1998, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[13]  Olivier Caron,et al.  Effects of local fatigue of the lower limbs on postural control and postural stability in standing posture , 2003, Neuroscience Letters.

[14]  M Schieppati,et al.  Fatigue effects on body balance. , 1997, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[15]  M Schieppati,et al.  The limits of equilibrium in young and elderly normal subjects and in parkinsonians. , 1994, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[16]  F. Horak,et al.  Assessing the Influence of Sensory Interaction on Balance , 1986 .

[17]  S. Simon,et al.  The Effect of Fatigue on Multijoint Kinematics and Load Sharing During a Repetitive Lifting Test , 1997, Spine.

[18]  J. Massion.  Postural control system , 1994, Current Opinion in Neurobiology.

[19]  M. A. Nussbaum,et al.  Effects of lumbar extensor fatigue and fatigue rate on postural sway , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[20]  F. Horak,et al.  Components of postural dyscontrol in the elderly: A review , 1989, Neurobiology of Aging.

[21]  M Schieppati,et al.  Time course of stabilometric changes after a strenuous treadmill exercise. , 1998, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[22]  J. Joseph,et al.  Electromyography of muscles of posture: leg and thigh muscles in women, including the effects of high heels , 1956, The Journal of physiology.

[23]  A. Tokuhiro,et al.  Electromyographic kinesiology of lower extremity muscles during slope walking. , 1985, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[24]  B. Maton,et al.  Effects of postural muscle fatigue on the relation between segmental posture and movement. , 2002, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[25]  J M Mur,et al.  Falls and working individuals: role of extrinsic and intrinsic factors , 2001, Ergonomics.

[26]  Y. Itzchak,et al.  Analysis of muscular fatigue and foot stability during high-heeled gait. , 2002, Gait & posture.

[27]  J. Yaggie,et al.  Effects of isokinetic ankle fatigue on the maintenance of balance and postural limits. , 2002, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[28]  Hongwei Hsiao,et al.  Control and Perception of Balance at Elevated and Sloped Surfaces , 2003, Hum. Factors.

[29]  Nicolas Vuillerme,et al.  Postural sway under muscle vibration and muscle fatigue in humans , 2002, Neuroscience Letters.

[30]  B. Maki,et al.  Aging and Postural Control , 1990, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[31]  M. Redfern,et al.  Biomechanics of descending ramps , 1997 .

[32]  Normand Teasdale,et al.  Perturbation of the postural control system induced by muscular fatigue. , 2003, Gait & posture.

[33]  Torbjörn Ledin,et al.  Effects of postural disturbances with fatigued triceps surae muscles or with 20% additional body weight. , 2004, Gait & posture.

[34]  S. Brauer,et al.  Changes in postural stability in women aged 20 to 80 years. , 2003, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences.

[35]  N. L. Svensson,et al.  The influence of surface slope on human gait characteristics: a study of urban pedestrians walking on an inclined surface. , 1996, Ergonomics.

[36]  H. Skinner,et al.  Effect of fatigue on joint position sense of the knee , 1986, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[37]  Amit Bhattacharya,et al.  Effects of walking environments on the objective and subjective gait measures during dynamic task performance , 2001 .

[38]  J. Raymakers,et al.  The assessment of body sway and the choice of the stability parameter(s). , 2005, Gait & posture.

[39]  J. Frank,et al.  Locomotor adaptations for changes in the slope of the walking surface. , 2004, Gait & posture.