Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
School of Computing and Information Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 11;11(1):405. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79730-z.
The aim of this study was to identify motor control solutions associated with the ability to maintain handstand balance. Using a novel approach, we investigated the dynamical interactions between centre of pressure (CoP) and centre of mass (CoM) motion. A gymnastics cohort was divided into a 'less skilled' group, who held handstands for 4-6 s, and a 'more skilled' group, who held handstands in excess of 10 s. CoP-CoM causality was investigated in anterior-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions, in addition to time-space, time-frequency and Hurst Exponent (H) analyses. Lower AP CoP to CoM causal drive and lower H values (> 0.6) indicated the more skilled gymnasts were less reliant on CoP mechanics to drive CoM motion. More skilled performance demonstrated greater adaptability through use of reactive, as opposed to anticipatory, control strategies. Skilled performers additionally exploited mechanical advantages in ML (e.g. a wider base of support), compared to the less skilled athletes. A multiple regression analysis revealed H and frequency domain measures to be better predictors of handstand balance duration than time-space domain measures. The study findings highlight the advantage of an adaptable motor control system with a directional profile, and provide new insight into the clear, measurable footprint of CoP on the dynamics of CoM.
本研究旨在确定与倒立平衡能力相关的运动控制解决方案。我们采用一种新方法研究了压力中心 (CoP) 和质心 (CoM) 运动之间的动态相互作用。将体操运动员分为“技能较低”组(保持倒立 4-6 秒)和“技能较高”组(保持倒立超过 10 秒)。我们在前后 (AP) 和左右 (ML) 方向上,以及时空、时频和赫斯特指数 (H) 分析中,研究了 CoP-CoM 的因果关系。较低的 AP CoP 对 CoM 因果驱动和较高的 H 值 (>0.6) 表明,技能较高的体操运动员较少依赖 CoP 力学来驱动 CoM 运动。较高的技能表现通过使用反应性而不是预测性的控制策略展示了更大的适应性。与技能较低的运动员相比,熟练的运动员在 ML 方向上(例如,更宽的支撑基础)还利用了机械优势。多元回归分析表明,H 值和频域测量比时空域测量更能预测倒立平衡的持续时间。研究结果突出了具有定向特征的适应性运动控制系统的优势,并为 CoP 对 CoM 动力学的清晰、可测量的影响提供了新的见解。