Difference Between Postural Sway, Functional Fitness, And Behavioral Measures In Older Adult Fallers & Non-Fallers, Olivia Maus, Rebecca Brandhorst, Andrea Geisenhof, Kyle Reason

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

BACKGROUND: Falls are among the leading causes of injury, hospitalization, and loss of independence among older adults. There is not enough research to determine how body composition, fitness, and postural sway affect balance.

METHODS: Participants completed surveys measuring behaviors around fall risk, assessment of body composition, postural sway, and functional fitness.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference between OF and ONF on the FES-I (p=0.05; d=-0.41) and the ABC-6 (p=0.008; d=0.57). There was significance on condition three of the mCTSIB (p=0.007; d=-.58), and composite score (p=0.04; d=-0.43).Significance between groups was approached on condition one of the mCTSIB (p=0.06; d=-0.39).

CONCLUSIONS: …

Sternocleidomastoid Syndrome In A Collegiate Basketball Athlete: A Case Study, Sara Stiltner, Rob Whitehurst, Eric Avers

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

BACKGROUND
20-year-old male basketball athlete with recurring upper and lower extremity instability injuries presented fall 2021 with shoulder and ankle instability. A past medical history of thermal capsulorrhaphy from high school with surgical intervention May 2021 (college first year). October 2021 athlete began experiencing rotator cuff strains in both shoulders. November 2021, December 2021, January 2022 athlete experiences recurrent right ankle sprains. Each ankle sprain resulted in two weeks of lost participation, followed by one week of active participation. The third ankle sprain associated with increased swelling and pain over medial ankle. Upon referral and MRI a deltoid ligament sprain …

Effect Of Hearing Status On Modified Balance Error Scoring System Performance, Matthew Brancaleone, Claire Akard, Jaclyn Caccese

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
Concussion assessments typically include evaluations of self-reported symptoms, neurocognitive function, and postural control. Specifically, postural control is often assessed using the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS). Although normative mBESS data exist, they may not be appropriate for all athletes, such as those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HoH). Given the relationship between the cochlea and the vestibular system, athletes who are D/HoH may exhibit differences in postural control due to potential vestibular dysfunction. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare mBESS performance between athletes who are D/HoH and athletes who are hearing.

An Objective Assessment Of Neuromotor Control Using A Smartphone App After Repeated Subconcussive Blast Exposure, Charlend K. Howard, Masahiro Yamada, Marcia Dovel, Rie Leverett, Alexander Hill, Kenneth A. Manlapaz, David O. Keyser, Rene S. Hernandez, Sheilah S. Rowe, Walter S. Carr, Michael S. Roy, Christopher K. Rhea

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Subconcussive blast exposure has been shown to alter neurological functioning. However, the extent to which neurological dysfunction persists after blast exposure is unknown. This longitudinal study examined the potential short- and long-term effects of repeated subconcussive blast exposure on neuromotor performance from heavy weapons training in military personnel. A total of 214 participants were assessed; 137 were exposed to repeated subconcussive blasts and 77 were not exposed to blasts (controls). Participants completed a short stepping-in-place task while an Android smartphone app placed on their thigh recorded movement kinematics. We showed acute suppression of neuromotor variability 6 h after subconcussive blast …

Physiological And Biomechanical Response To Indoor Cycling With And Without The Ability To Sway, Alina P. Swafford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Bicycles have been around since the early 19th century. Since the invention of the bicycle, it has taken on several purposes. People have used bicycles as a means of transportation, leisure, exercise, and sport. The number of individuals who participate in a cycling event per year has increased. With the increase in popularity, research related to cycling has also increased. Research related to the physiology and biomechanics of cycling are of particular areas of interest. Balance is a crucial component of understanding why we cycle a certain way. Some research has labeled balancing on a bicycle as cycling sway. …

Quantifying Balance: Computational And Learning Frameworks For The Characterization Of Balance In Bipedal Systems, Kubra Akbas

Dissertations

In clinical practice and general healthcare settings, the lack of reliable and objective balance and stability assessment metrics hinders the tracking of patient performance progression during rehabilitation; the assessment of bipedal balance plays a crucial role in understanding stability and falls in humans and other bipeds, while providing clinicians important information regarding rehabilitation outcomes. Bipedal balance has often been examined through kinematic or kinetic quantities, such as the Zero Moment Point and Center of Pressure; however, analyzing balance specifically through the body's Center of Mass (COM) state offers a holistic and easily comprehensible view of balance and stability.

Building upon …

Advancing The Assessment And Treatment Of Signs And Symptoms Of Parkinson Disease, David Scott May

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

People with PD often report signs and symptoms that negatively impact quality of life. Among these are balance difficulties, impaired gait, and FOG. New treatment and assessment strategies for these signs and symptoms are needed, as current techniques are limited. While new treatment and assessment strategies continue to emerge, gaps in knowledge persist. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been utilized in many people with PD throughout the 21st century, but it is unknown specifically how subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) affects balance. Alternative treatment strategies, such as a dental mouthpiece, have also been proposed. While dental mouthpieces have shown …

A Biomechanical Approach To Prevent Falls In Ergonomic Settings, Sachini Kodithuwakku Arachchige

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Fall-related injuries are exceptionally prevalent in occupational settings. While endangering the workers’ health, falls cause poor productivity and increased economic burden in the workplace. Hence, identifying these threats and training workers to achieve proper postural control is crucial. Purpose: Study 1: To investigate the ankle joint kinematics in unexpected and expected trip responses during single-tasking (ST), dual-tasking (DT), and triple-tasking (TT), before and after a physically fatiguing exercise. Study 2: To investigate the impact of virtual heights, DT, and training on static postural stability and cognitive processing. Methods: Study 1: Twenty collegiate volunteers (10 males and females, one left …

Description, Reliability And Validation Of A Novel Ground-Reaction-Force-Triggered Protocol For Simulation Of Tripping Perturbations During Gait, James Anderson, Samuel Hadley, Denise Ng, Catrina Fabian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Tripping is a common cause of falls across different age populations particularly in older adults. Concerns regarding the validity of simulated-fall research protocols reside in the current literature. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel treadmill-based tripping protocol that allowed researchers to deliver unanticipated tripping perturbations during walking with a high level of timing precision. The protocol utilized a side-by-side split-belt treadmill instrumented with force platforms. Treadmill belt acceleration profiles (two levels of perturbation severity: small perturbation vs large perturbation) were delivered unilaterally when the tripped leg bore 20% of the body weight during early stance. Peak …

Postural Control Is Altered In Females With Excessive Medial Knee Displacement, Joao R. Vaz, Nikolaos Stergiou, Ana Diniz, Ricardo Dinis, Pedro Pezarat-Correia

Journal Articles

Knee valgus motion observed during landing tasks has been proposed as a predictor of future knee injury. It mainly involves excess motion in the frontal plane and is known to be greater in individuals with excessive medial knee displacement (MKD). This affects postural control during sports manoeuvres. Previous sports medicine-related research suggests that the nature of these fluctuations provide rich and more sensitive information to identify risk of (re)injury. We aimed to investigate the fluctuations of the centre of pressure (CoP) in individuals with and without excessive MKD. Twenty females (12 controls; 8 excessive MKD) were instructed to perform single-leg …

The Function Of The Intrinsic Foot Muscles During Turns And Mediolateral Shifts In Balance, Hope E. Kircher

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: Atrophy of the intrinsic foot muscles (IFM) has been associated with foot deformity, balance deficiencies, and plantar ulceration in patients with diabetes. Nevertheless, little is understood regarding the function of the intrinsic foot muscles responsible for abduction of the toes, and no study has directly assessed the role of the abductors in maintaining mediolateral balance or foot alignment and integrity during turning and other nonlinear activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the activation levels of abductor hallucis (ABDH), abductor digiti minimi (ABDM), the first (PDIO1) and third (PDIO3) dorsal interossei, and flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) during …

Swaying To The Complex Motion Of A Visual Target Affects Postural Sway Variability, Haralampos Sotirakis, Dimitrios A. Patikas, Nicholas Stergiou, Vassilia Hatzitaki

Journal Articles

Background

Voluntary shifting body weight in the anteroposterior direction is an important element of daily life activities, such as rising from a chair or initiating a step. In order to accommodate the daily-life challenges of such tasks, voluntary postural sway needs to be flexible and variable.

Research question

In this study we asked how whole-body tracking of a complex visual target motion with the concurrent provision of feedback modulates the variability of voluntary sway.

Methods

Twenty young adults (age: 27.10 ± 9.15years, height: 170.73 ± 9.40 cm, mass: 62.84 ± 11.48 kg) performed 132 cycles of voluntary antero-posterior sway, on …

Biomechanical Comparison Of "Old" And "New" Cheer Shoes In Collegiate Cheerleaders, Abigail C. Johnson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: The sport of cheerleading requires that athletes perform with a high degree of flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance. The leading injury in cheerleading is a lateral, inversion, ankle sprain. As footwear serves as an interface between the foot and the surrounding environment, characteristics of shoes should be monitored to determine the effects on proprioceptive communication. No previous literature was found that examined the biomechanical differences between “Old” and “New” shoes in collegiate cheerleaders. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical differences exhibited by collegiate cheerleaders while performing balance testing and step-down, landing tasks in “old” …

The Effects Of Advancing Stages Of Pregnancy On Balance And Stair Locomotion In Healthy Females, Heather Vanderhoof

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: One in four females fall while pregnant, which may lead to injury, hospitalization, or birth complications. No empirical research has been conducted on single-limb support (SLS) balance or joint kinematics during stair locomotion in pregnant and postpartum females. The aim of this study was to quantify possible alterations to postural control and stair kinematics in advancing stages of pregnancy when compared to non-pregnant females. Methods: This cross-sectional study compared eighteen females, consisting of six non-pregnant controls, five 2nd trimester, four 3rd trimester, and three postpartum. Center of pressure excursion area data were obtained during static balance trials on a …

Alterations In Cortical Activation Among Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability During Single-Limb Postural Control, Adam Rosen, Jennifer M. Yentes, Melanie L. Mcgrath, Arthur C. Maerlender, Sara A. Myers, Mukul Mukherjee

Journal Articles

Context

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is characterized by repetitive ankle sprains and perceived instability. Whereas the underlying cause of CAI is disputed, alterations in cortical motor functioning may contribute to the perceived dysfunction.

Objective

To assess differences in cortical activity during single-limb stance among control, coper, and CAI groups.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Biomechanics laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants

A total of 31 individuals (10 men, 21 women; age = 22.3 ± 2.4 years, height = 169.6 ± 9.7 cm, mass = 70.6 ± 11.6 kg), who were classified into control (n = 13), coper (n = 7), and CAI …

Differences In Static Postural Control Performance Between Athletes Who Are Hearing And Athletes Who Are Deaf Or Hard-Of-Hearing, Matthew P. Brancaleone, Maria K. Talarcio, Laura C. Boucher, James A. Onate

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 5, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue you will find Professional and under graduate research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

This research was funded by an OATA Research Grant

Thank you for viewing this 5^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

The Impact Of Flexibility On Balance In Rifle Athletes, Ileia Nagelkirk

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Research has shown that there may be a connection between flexibility and balance when evaluating fall risk in older adults and flexibility’s effect on a balance test (Emilio, Hita-Contreras, Jiménez-Lara, Latorre-Román, & Martínez-Amat, 2014); Overmoyer & Reiser, (2015). Balance is an important component of many sport movements, and has been shown to be particularly important in shooting performance in both novice and Olympic rifle athletes (Mononen, Konttinen, Viitasalo, Era, 2007; Ball, Best, Wrigley, 2003). The purpose of this study was to find if there was a relationship between a rifle athlete’s flexibility and their balance ability, to determine if flexibility …

Changes In Sebt Scores In College Basketball Players Participating In A Preventative Ankle Program, Haley Potters, Jennifer Miller, Kurt Wilson

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

In volume 4, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professional Research Abstracts, as well as Bachelor Student Research Abstracts and Case Reports.

Thank you for viewing this 4^th Annual OATA Special Edition

Gait Asymmetry In People With Parkinson’S Disease Is Linked To Reduced Integrity Of Callosal Sensorimotor Regions, Brett W. Fling, Carolin Curtze, Fay B. Horak

Journal Articles

Background: Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often manifest significant temporal and spatial asymmetries of the lower extremities during gait, which significantly contribute to mobility impairments. While the neural mechanisms underlying mobility asymmetries within this population remain poorly understood, recent evidence points to altered microstructural integrity of white matter fiber tracts within the corpus callosum as potentially playing a substantial role.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify spatial and temporal gait asymmetries as well as transcallosal microstructural integrity of white matter fiber tracts connecting the primary and secondary sensorimotor cortices in people with PD and age-matched control participants. …

The Slippery Slope Between Falling And Recovering: An Examination Of Sensory And Somatic Factors Influencing Recovery After A Slip, Samuel J. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Slips and falls account for large rates of injury and mortality in multiple populations. During an unexpected slip, sensory mechanisms are responsible for signaling the slip to the central nervous system, and a series of corrective responses is generated to arrest the slip and prevent a fall. While previous research has examined the corrective responses elicited, the answer of how these systems break down during a fall remains elusive. Purpose: To examine differences in postural control (slip detection), lower extremity corrective responses (slip recovery), and cortical control of the slip recovery response between individuals who fall and those who …

The Head Shake Sensory Organization Test (Hs-Sot): Normative Data And Correlation With Dynamic Visual Acuity Testing, Andrea E. Cripps, Scott C. Livingston

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Background: Among healthy (asymptomatic) subjects and patients, the relationship between performance on the Head Shake Sensory Organization Test (HS-SOT) and performance on the Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) testing has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to establish normative data for the HS-SOT and compare performance on the HS-SOT and the DVA test. Hypothesis: A strong positive correlation would exist between the DVA and the HS-SOT. Study Design: A cross-sectional design was used. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Sixty asymptomatic subjects (34 females, 26 males, ages 20 to 26 years, 23.7±1.6) participated. Each subject’s dynamic balance …

Posture And Gaze Tracking Of A Vertically Moving Target Reveals Age-Related Constraints In Visuo-Motor Coupling, Haralampos Sotirakis, Anastasia Kyvelidou, Nicholas Stergiou, Vassilia Hatzitaki

Journal Articles

Previously we have demonstrated that the effect of aging on posture and gaze active tracking of a visual target moving in the horizontal direction is dependent on target’s complexity. In this study, we asked whether a similar phenomenon is present when tracking a visual target moving with varying complexity in the vertical direction. Ten young (22.98 ± 2.9 years) and 10 older adults (72.45 ± 4.72 years) tracked for 120 s, a visual target moving vertically by shifting their bodyweight in the anterior-posterior direction. Three target motions were tested: a simple periodic (sine wave), a more complex (Lorenz attractor) and …

Correlation Between Volitional And Functional Balance Control In Healthy Young Athletes, Kerri Grothaus, Andrea Cripps, Adam Fullenkamp, Matt Laurent

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

In Volume 3, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professionals abstracts, as well Under Graduate student research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 3^rd Annual OATA Special Edition.

The Effect Of Repetitive Head Impacts On Postural Control Over The Course Of A Single Season, Katelyn E. Grimes

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Recently neurocognitive dysfunction has been linked to poor postural control in concussed athletes. While the detrimental effect of repetitive head impacts on cognitive function have been shown to mirror the effects of concussive injury, very little research has investigated the physical consequences of repetitive head impacts. PURPOSE: To observe the effects of RHI on postural control, both static and dynamic, in NCAA Division I athletes over the course of a single season. METHODS: 9 NCAA Division I football athletes (CON) were recruited from a single university as the experimental group, as well as 9 NCAA Division I baseball players …

The Effects Of A 12-Week Custom Foot Orthotic Intervention On The Intrinsic Muscles Of The Foot, And Dynamic Stability During Unexpected Gait Termination In Healthy Young Adults, Katrina Protopapas

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Custom-made foot orthotics (CFO’s) are a commonly prescribed intervention to help individuals that are suffering from foot pain and foot disorders. However, the mechanisms of CFO’s are still poorly understood and are not well known. With the plantar intrinsic muscles of the foot being in direct contact with the CFO, it puts these structures at risk for disuse muscle atrophy as a result of being offloaded. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of a 12-week custom-made foot orthotic intervention on the intrinsic muscles of the foot and dynamic stability during unexpected gait termination. …

Comparison Of Muscle Latencies For Diabetic Neuropathy Patients Versus Healthy Controls During A Perturbed Balance Task, Kyle Mefferd

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle latencies for patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy versus healthy controls during a perturbed balance task, with a secondary purpose to distinguish postural control strategies the groups used based on the muscle latencies. Five participants diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy (DN; 4 male, 99.7 ± 7.95 kg, 176 ± 9.58 cm, 46.6 ± 16.55 years) and 5 healthy control (HC; 4 male, 100.36 ± 12.61 kg, 173.76 ± 9.66 cm, 47 ± 13.42 years) participants were recruited. Participants granted institutionally approved written consent before participating. Delsys Trigino Wireless EMG sensors were placed on …

The Effect Of Training Older Adults In Tai Chi And Compensatory Stepping On Balance Control, Hannah L. Moore Miss

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

Introduction: In Canadian society, there is a growing prevalence of older adults and one of the main problems facing this generation today is the risk of falling. Tai Chi (TC) is a martial art that has demonstrated improvements in balance control. It uses a series of fluid movements that engage head, neck and trunk rotation while simultaneously reducing base of support. In addition, it has been demonstrated that training older adults by administering unpredictable perturbations to challenge balance better equips them to react successfully in response to balance perturbations. This study aims to determine the potential balance specific benefits …

Evaluation Of Static And Dynamic Postural Control In Athletes With Concussions During Recovery, Nicholas Murray

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Approximately seventy-six percent of individuals with a sport-related concussion present with reduced balance. Current Return-to-Play (RTP) protocols rely heavily on measures of static balance that are not environmentally relevant. However, due to the variable nature of symptom presentation, research has not clearly defined a requisite time for balance recovery following a sport-related concussion. The use of novel procedures such as monitoring postural control during an environmentally relevant dynamic balance tasks could refine the timeline for recovery of postural control and aid in mitigating the potential severe consequences of Second Impact Syndrome. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate …

Taking Balance Measurement Out Of The Laboratory And Into The Home: Discriminatory Capability Of Novel Centre Of Pressure Measurement In Fallers And Non-Fallers, Denise Mcgrath, Emer P. Doheny, Lorcan Walsh, David Mckeown, Clodagh Cunningham, Lisa Crosby, Rose Anne Kenny, Nikolaos Stergiou, Brian Caulfield, Barry R. Greene

Journal Articles

We investigated three methods for estimating centre of pressure excursions, as measured using a portable pressure sensor matrix, in order to deploy similar technology into the homes of older adults for longitudinal monitoring of postural control and falls risk. We explored the utility of these three methods as markers of falls risk in a cohort of 120 community dwelling older adults with and without a history of falls (65 fallers, 55 non-fallers). A number of standard quantitative balance parameters were derived using each centre of pressure estimation method. Rank sum tests were used to test for significant differences between fallers …

Postural Control Strategy During Standing Is Altered In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Jessie M. Huisinga, Jenna M. Yentes, Mary Filipi, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Disturbances in balance are one of the first reported symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), yet limited research has been performed to classify the postural control deficits in this population. This study investigated the variability present in the sway patterns during quiet standing in patients with MS (PwMS) and healthy controls. Subjects were assessed (eyes open, closed) standing on a force platform. Variability of the sway patterns was quantified using a measure of amount of variability (root mean square; RMS) and two measures of temporal structure of variability (Lyapunov Exponent – LyE; Approximate Entropy – ApEn). RMS results revealed significantly higher …