Comparison of Postural Performance during Kneeling and Standing at Different Modes of Ventilation

Abstract

The aim of the work was to compare postural performance during kneeling and standing between different modes of ventilation. Body stability was assessed using a force platform in healthy volunteers (n = 48) during quiet breathing (QB), breath holding (BH), and hyperventilation (Hyp) in the kneeling and standing positions. The mean velocity of the center of pressure (CP) displacement and the postural sway amplitude were estimated in the anteroposterior and mediolateral planes. The breathing amplitude and respiration rate were evaluated using a strain gauge. In general, the CP displacement amplitude in the mediolateral plane was lower and mean velocity higher during kneeling than during standing. The results gave grounds to assume that the kneeling posture was accompanied by a higher strain of the postural control system and that a reduced postural sway amplitude during kneeling was related to an unusual body configuration rather than better postural performance.