Unit:
Department of Physical Education & Sport ScienceLibrary of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science
Author:
DERVENIOTI AIKATERINI
Supervisors info:
ΜΑΡΙΑ-ΕΛΙΣΣΑΒΕΤ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΙΔΟΥ, ΕΕΠ, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Η επίδραση του ύψους τακουνιού στην ορθοστατική απόδοση σε διττή συνθήκη γνωστικού-ορθοστατικού σκοπού νεαρών γυναικών
Translated title:
The effect of heel height on postural performance in a dual cognitive-postural task in adult women
Summary:
Dual tasking is determined by the concurrent execution of a cognitive and a postural task. The present study examined the effect of heel height on postural performance in a dual cognitive-postural task in young adult women. A secondary purpose was to investigate the interference of cognitive load on postural performance while standing on shoes with different heel height. Twenty one physically active women with no prior experience of wearing high-heeled shoes (aged: 37.9±10.6 years, mass: 66.5±10.2 kg, height: 169.0±6.3 cm) participated in an experimental protocol of baseline and experimental conditions in order to evaluate: a) postural performance (PP), and b.1) cognitive performance of short- term memory via recollection of the precise order of appearance of a series of 10 single- digit numbers being randomly shown in a computer screen (COGN-task A), b.2) cognitive performance of attention/concentration via a visual search and oral formation of a 4 word sentence (COGN-task B) during baseline conditions. During the experimental conditions, the PP was assessed in dual task-A and -B (quiet two-legged static stance concurrently with the execution of COGN-task A and B) while standing on a medium heel (MH: 7 cm) and a high heel (HH: 10.1cm). PP was determined by CoP parameters (path length, range of anteroposterior and mediolateral CoP sway) after recording the vertical ground reaction force by means of a customized F/P (Biovision, Fs=1000 Hz). Main statistical analyses involved 2-factor (heel height and condition) repeated-measures ANOVA to check for the main effect of heel height and condition and interaction effect of heel height and condition in the parameters of PP (a=0.05). Results showed that heel height significantly (p=0.001) reduced PP only in CoP path length during both experimental dual task-A and -B conditions. PP did not significantly (p>0.05) differ due to heel height for the CoP anteroposterior and mediolateral sway range in any dual task condition. PP was significantly reduced in dual task-A (p<0.05) and in dual task-B (p<0.01) condition compared with baseline condition only for the mediolateral CoP sway range. There was no significant (p>0.05) heel height by condition interaction in any examined parameter either in dual task-A or dual task-B condition. Cognitive performance in COGN task-A and -B did not significantly (p>0.05) differ between baseline and experimental conditions in any heel height. The impairment in PP due to heel height confirms previous studies. The absence of dual task cost in PP during the dual cognitive-postural task despite the increased demands for postural stability due to heel height contradicts previous findings. The increased CoP mediolateral sway during dual task-A and -B that was observed regardless of heel height, and combined with the absence of differences in cognitive performance between baseline and experimental conditions, probably suggests that standing on heels ≥7 cm of height posed a threat to the system, which was dealt with CoP lateral adaptations with regards to the body’s vertical orientation. Further research focusing on the investigation of dual task condition in physically active women with and without prior experience with high-heeled shoes combined with muscle activation is warranted.
Main subject category:
Education - Sport science
Keywords:
dual-tasking, cognitive task, postural performance, center of pressure, short-term memory, sentence completion task, static stance
