Adaptation of Human Postural Control

ISBN-13: 9783639148770 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 112 str.

Per-Anders Fransson

Opis

Human movement control is complex and involves over 600 muscles controlled by an advanced regulatory system guided by three interacting sensory systems. Still, we can with ease make accurate and smooth movements, even under continuously changing conditions. This book illustrates some of the properties of learning in human postural control when the sensory and motor systems are affected by factors such as poor sensation on the soles of the feet, body overweight or fatigued calf muscles while standing. The studies show that human postural control has extensive abilities to adjust its properties when the sensory or motor system constraints change and that these adaptive changes can be mathematically described. The findings suggest that several partly independent learning processes, acting at different time scales, are involved in the formation of an improved performance designated to handle the situations encountered. The studies shed new light on how humans learn to handle novel physical challenges, which should be of interest for professionals working with physical training or diagnosing and rehabilitating patients suffering from balance disorders.

O autorze

Per-Anders Fransson, PhD. Received the M.Sc. degree in
electrical engineering in 1991, and the Ph.D. degree in 2005
from Lund University, Sweden. His research has been focused on
studies of the adaptive, biomechanical and kinematic properties
of human postural control. He has published over 60 articles in
medical and science journals.