Abstract
Obesity is known to have a detrimental effect on balance and motor performance during daily motor tasks. However, it remains unclear whether these obesity-related impairments are due to deficient anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) that precede voluntary movement. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of obesity on APA and the impacts related on motor performance and mediolateral postural stability during gait initiation. Fifteen obese and ten normal-weight young participants performed a series of gait initiation at their preferred speed. Our results showed that the durations and amplitudes of APA along both anteroposterior and mediolateral directions did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). In contrast, compared to normal-weight participants, mechanical effectiveness of APA was reduced in obese participants (P < 0.05). As a result, we observed a decreased motor performance (P < 0.05), in terms of peak anteroposterior center-of-mass velocity at the end of the first step, and a reduced mediolateral stability at swing foot contact in obese participants compared to normal-weight participants (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that APA effectiveness during gait initiation is reduced in obese adults, resulting in a decrease of both mediolateral stability and motor performance compared to their lean counterparts.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data and/or code availability
Not applicable.
References
AMTI Model OR6-7 Biomechanics platform instruction manual. Advanced Mechanical Technology Inc, Watertown
Artico R, Fourcade P, Teyssèdre C, Caderby T, Delafontaine A, Yiou E (2020) Influence of swing-foot strike pattern on balance control mechanisms during gait initiation over an obstacle to be cleared. Appl Sci 10:244. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10010244
Aruin AS (2016) Enhancing anticipatory postural adjustments: a novel approach to balance rehabilitation. J Nov Physiother 6(2):e144. https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-7025.1000e144
Benjamini Y, Hochberg Y (1995) Controlling the false discovery rate: a practical and powerful approach to multiple testing. J Royal Stat Soc B 57:289–300
Berrigan F, Simoneau M, Tremblay A, Hue O, Teasdale N (2006) Influence of obesity on accurate and rapid arm movement performed from a standing posture. Int J Obes (Lond) 30:1750–1757. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803342
Bouisset S, Do MC (2008) Posture, dynamic stability, and voluntary movement. Neurophysiol Clin 38:345–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2008.10.001
Bouisset S, Zattara M (1987) Biomechanical study of the programming of anticipatory postural adjustments associated with voluntary movement. J Biomech 20:735–742
Brenière Y, Do MC, Bouisset S (1987) Are dynamic phenomena prior to stepping essential to walking. J Mot Behav 19:62–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222895.1987.10735400
Brunt D, Santos V, Kim HD, Light K, Levy C (2005) Initiation of movement from quiet stance: comparison of gait and stepping in elderly subjects of different levels of functional ability. Gait Posture 21:297–302
Buckova K, Lobotkova J, Hirjakova Z, Bzduskova D, Hilavacka F (2014) Postural control assessed by limits of stability in obese adults. Activitas Nervosa Superior Rediviva 56:87–90
Caderby T, Dalleau G, Leroyer P, Bonazzi B, Chane-Teng D, Do MC (2013a) Does an additional load modify the anticipatory postural adjustments in gait initiation? Gait Posture 37:144–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.06.012
Caderby T, Yiou E, Peyrot N, Bonazzi B, Dalleau G (2013b) Detection of swing heel-off event in gait initiation using force-plate data. Gait Posture 37:463–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.08.011
Caderby T, Yiou E, Peyrot N, Begon M, Dalleau G (2014) Influence of gait speed on the control of mediolateral dynamic stability during gait initiation. J Biomech 47:417–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.11.011
Caderby T, Yiou E, Peyrot N, de Vivies X, Bonazzi B, Dalleau G (2017) Effects of changing body weight distribution on mediolateral stability control during gait initiation. Front Hum Neurosci 11:127. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00127
Cau N, Cimolin V, Galli M, Precilios H, Tacchini E, Santovito C, Capodaglio P (2014) Center of pressure displacements during gait initiation in individuals with obesity. J Neuroeng Rehabil 11:82. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-11-82
Colné P, Frelut ML, Peres G, Thoumie P (2008) Postural control in obese adolescents assessed by limits of stability and gait initiation. Gait Posture 28:164–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2007.11.006
Corbeil P, Anaka E (2011) Combined effects of speed and directional change on postural adjustments during gait initiation. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 21:734–741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.05.005
Corbeil P, Simoneau M, Rancourt D, Tremblay A, Teasdale N (2001) Increased risk for falling associated with obesity: mathematical modeling of postural control. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 9:126–136. https://doi.org/10.1109/7333.928572
Couillandre A, Breniere Y, Maton B (2000) Is human gait initiation program affected by a reduction of the postural basis? Neurosci Lett 285:150–154
Crenna P, Frigo C (1991) A motor programme for the initiation of forward-oriented movements in humans. J Physiol 437:635–653
Del Porto H, Pechak C, Smith D, Reed-Jones R (2012) Biomechanical effects of obesity on balance. Int J Exerc Sci 5:301–320
Delval A et al (2007) A biomechanical study of gait initiation in Huntington's disease. Gait Posture 25:279–288
Ditcharles S, Yiou E, Delafontaine A, Hamaoui A (2017) Short-term effects of thoracic spine manipulation on the biomechanical organisation of gait initiation: a randomized pilot study. Front Hum Neurosci 11:343. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00343
Durnin JV, Womersley J (1974) Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. Br J Nutr 32:77–97. https://doi.org/10.1079/bjn19740060
Gélat T, Pellec AL, Breniere Y (2006) Evidence for a common process in gait initiation and stepping on to a new level to reach gait velocity. Exp Brain Res 170:336–344
Hamaoui A, Alamini-Rodrigues C (2017) Influence of cervical spine mobility on the focal and postural components of the sit-to-stand task. Front Hum Neurosci 11:129. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00129
Hamaoui A, Le Bozec S (2014) Does increased muscular tension along the torso disturb postural equilibrium more when it is asymmetrical? Gait Posture 39:333–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.07.131
Handrigan GA, Berrigan F, Hue O, Simoneau M, Corbeil P, Tremblay A, Teasdale N (2012) The effects of muscle strength on center of pressure-based measures of postural sway in obese and heavy athletic individuals. Gait Posture 35:88–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.08.012
Hansen C, LaRue J, Do MC, Latash ML (2016) Postural preparation to stepping: coupled center of pressure shifts in the anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions. J Hum Kinet 54:5–14. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2016-0030
Hiraoka K, Hatanaka R, Nikaido Y, Jono Y, Nomura Y, Tani K, Chujo Y (2014) Asymmetry of anticipatory postural adjustment during gait initiation. J Hum Kinet 42:7–14. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2014-0056
Hirjakova Z, Suttova K, Kimijanova J, Bzduskova D, Hlavacka F (2018) Postural changes during quiet stance and gait initiation in slightly obese adults. Physiol Res 67(6):985–992. https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.933870
Hof AL (1996) Scaling gait data to body size. Gait Posture 4:222–223
Hof AL, Gazendam MG, Sinke WE (2005) The condition for dynamic stability. J Biomech 38:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.03.025
Honeine JL, Schieppati M, Crisafulli O, Do MC (2016) The neuro-mechanical processes that underlie goal-directed medio-lateral APA during gait initiation. Front Hum Neurosci 10:445. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00445
Hue O et al (2007) Body weight is a strong predictor of postural stability. Gait Posture 26:32–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2006.07.005
Jian Y, Winter DA, Ishac MG, Gilchrist L (1993) Trajectory of the body COG and COP during initiation and termination of gait. Gait Posture 1:9–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/0966-6362(93)90038-3
Lepers R, Brenière Y (1995) The role of anticipatory postural adjustments and gravity in gait initiation. Exp Brain Res 107:118–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228023
Lyon IN, Day BL (1997) Control of frontal plane body motion in human stepping. Exp Brain Res 115:345–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00005703
Maki BE (1997) Gait changes in older adults: predictors of falls or indicators of fear. J Am Geriatr Soc 45:313–320
McIlroy WE, Maki BE (1997) Preferred placement of the feet during quiet stance: development of a standardized foot placement for balance testing. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 12:66–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/S026800339600040X
McIlroy WE, Maki BE (1999) The control of lateral stability during rapid stepping reactions evoked by antero-posterior perturbation: does anticipatory control play a role? Gait Posture 9:190–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0966-6362(99)00013-2
Melzer I, Kurz I, Shahar D, Levi M, Oddsson L (2007) Application of the voluntary step execution test to identify elderly fallers. Age Ageing 36:532–537. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afm068
Menegoni F, Galli M, Tacchini E, Vismara L, Cavigioli M, Capodaglio P (2009) Gender-specific effect of obesity on balance. Obesity (Silver Spring) 17:1951–1956. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2009.82
Michel V, Do MC (2002) Are stance ankle plantar flexor muscles necessary to generate propulsive force during human gait initiation? Neurosci Lett 325:139–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00255-0
Mignardot JB, Olivier I, Promayon E, Nougier V (2013) Origins of balance disorders during a daily living movement in obese: can biomechanical factors explain everything? PLoS ONE 8:e60491. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060491
Mitchell RJ, Lord SR, Harvey LA, Close JC (2014) Associations between obesity and overweight and fall risk, health status and quality of life in older people. Aust NZ J Public Health 38:13–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12152
Mouchnino L, Blouin J (2013) When standing on a moving support, cutaneous inputs provide sufficient information to plan the anticipatory postural adjustments for gait initiation. PLoS ONE 8:e55081. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055081
Rocchi L, Chiari L, Mancini M, Carlson-Kuhta P, Gross A, Horak FB (2006) Step initiation in Parkinson's disease: influence of initial stance conditions. Neurosci Lett 406:128–132
Rogers MW, Mille ML (2003) Lateral stability and falls in older people. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 31:182–187
Rogers MW, Hedman LD, Johnson ME, Cain TD, Hanke TA (2001) Lateral stability during forward-induced stepping for dynamic balance recovery in young and older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 56:M589–594
Sadeghi H, Tabatabai F, Mousavi K (2012) Gender differences in spatio-temporal parameters of gait initiation. Iran J Health Phys Act 3:55–60
Saito H, Yamanaka M, Kasahara S, Fukushima J (2014) Relationship between improvements in motor performance and changes in anticipatory postural adjustments during whole-body reaching training. Hum Mov Sci 37:69–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2014.07.001
Siri WE (1956) The gross composition of the body. Adv Biol Med Phys 4:239–280
Teasdale N, Simoneau M, Corbeil P, Handrigan G, Tremblay A, Hue O (2013) Obesity alters balance and movement control. Curr Obes Rep 2:235–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-013-0057-8
Tisserand R, Robert T, Chabaud P, Bonnefoy M, Cheze L (2016) Elderly fallers enhance dynamic stability through anticipatory postural adjustments during a choice stepping reaction time. Front Hum Neurosci 10:613. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00613
Winter DA (1990) Biomechanics and motor control of human movement, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York
World Health Organization (2017) Obesity and overweight. WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
Wu X, Madigan ML (2014) Impaired plantar sensitivity among the obese is associated with increased postural sway. Neurosci Lett 583:49–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2014.09.029
Yiou E, Caderby T, Hussein T (2012) Adaptability of anticipatory postural adjustments associated with voluntary movement. World J Orthop 3:75–86. https://doi.org/10.5312/wjo.v3.i6.75
Yiou E, Artico R, Teyssedre CA, Labaune O, Fourcade P (2016) Anticipatory postural control of stability during gait initiation over obstacles of different height and distance made under reaction-time and self-initiated instructions. Front Hum Neurosci 10:449. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00449
Yiou E, Caderby T, Delafontaine A, Fourcade P, Honeine JL (2017) Balance control during gait initiation: state-of-the-art and research perspectives. World J Orthop 8:815–828. https://doi.org/10.5312/wjo.v8.i11.815
Zettel JL, McIlroy WE, Maki BE (2002) Environmental constraints on foot trajectory reveal the capacity for modulation of anticipatory postural adjustments during rapid triggered stepping reactions. Exp Brain Res 146:38–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-002-1150-5
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Mr. Lespert Cui for his technical assistance.
Funding
This work was supported by a Grant from the University of La Reunion.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. All authors participated in data collection. TC, NC and NP performed data analysis. All authors contributed to the interpretation of data. The first draft of the manuscript was written by TC and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Ethics approval
Approval was obtained from the local ethics committee. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Consent to participate
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Consent to publish
Not applicable.
Additional information
Communicated by Winston D. Byblow.
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Caderby, T., Caron, N., Verkindt, C. et al. Obesity-related alterations in anticipatory postural mechanisms associated with gait initiation. Exp Brain Res 238, 2557–2567 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-020-05914-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-020-05914-8