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J Neurophysiol 88: 2157-2162, 2002;
0022-3077/02 $5.00
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The Journal of Neurophysiology Vol. 88 No. 4 October 2002, pp. 2157-2162
Copyright ©2002 by the American Physiological Society

RAPID COMMUNICATION

Ankle Muscle Stiffness Alone Cannot Stabilize Balance During Quiet Standing

Pietro G. Morasso and Vittorio Sanguineti

Department of Informatics, Systems, Telecommunication, University of Genova, I-16145 Genova, Italy; and Center of Bioengineering, Hospital La Colletta, I-16011 Arenzano, Italy

Morasso, Pietro G. and Vittorio Sanguineti. Ankle Muscle Stiffness Alone Cannot Stabilize Balance During Quiet Standing. J. Neurophysiol. 88: 2157-2162, 2002. This communication addresses again the hypothesis that the stabilization of balance during quiet standing is achieved by the stiffness of ankle muscles without anticipatory active control. It is shown that a recently proposed method of estimating ankle stiffness directly from the analysis of the posturographic data is incorrect because it ignores the modulation of motoneuronal activity and grossly overestimates the real range of values in relation with the critical value of stiffness. Moreover, a new simulation study with a realistic model of ankle muscles demonstrates the mechanical instability of the system when there is no anticipatory control input. However, the simulations also suggest that in normal subjects the active stiffness mechanisms of stabilization have similar weights in determining the restoring forces that are necessary for preventing the body from falling.




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