Author:

Keywords:

postural adjustments, catching, arm raising, segment stabilization, equilibrium control, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Neurosciences, Sport Sciences, Neurosciences & Neurology, SHORT-TERM CHANGES, ARM MOVEMENT, BODY-MASS, ORGANIZATION, CONSTRAINTS, MODULATION, STABILITY, Adaptation, Physiological, Arm, Biomechanical Phenomena, Humans, Male, Movement, Muscle, Skeletal, Postural Balance, Posture, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time, Young Adult, 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 1701 Psychology, Experimental Psychology, 4207 Sports science and exercise, 5202 Biological psychology

Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to investigate postural adjustments in one-handed ball catching. Specifically, the functional role of anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) during the initial arm raising and subsequent postural adjustments (SPA) for equilibrium control and ball-hand impact were scrutinized. Full-body kinematics and kinetics allowed an analysis of the mechanical consequences of raising up the arm and preparing for ball-hand impact. APA for catching were suggested to be for segment stabilization. SPA had a functional role for equilibrium control by an inverted pendulum mechanism but were also involved in preparing for the impact of the ball on the hand, which was illustrated by an increased postural response at the end of the movement. These results were compared with raising up the arm in a well-studied reaction-time task, for which an additional counter rotation equilibrium mechanism was observed. Together, our findings demonstrate that postural adjustments should be investigated in relation to their specific functional task constraints, rather than generalizing the functional role of these postural adjustments over different tasks.