Posturographic analysis: integration of force plate signals and surface electromyography

This work aims at integrating the information provided by surface Electromyography with standard posturographic parameters in order to evaluate the physiological mechanisms underlying balance control. An experimental protocol, properly designed to evaluate postural steadiness, has been applied to a sample population composed of 5 young adults and 5 children. The characteristics of surface myoelectric signals, recorded during quiet stance exercises, have been studied. The need for new analysis techniques dealing with the peculiar features of this kind of myoelectric signals is focused. Since myoelectric signals in children behave differently from the adult ones, the integrated information can be useful in studying the development of control mechanisms during children development. Preliminary results show the usefulness of the proposed integration in the study of postural steadiness.