%0 Journal Article
%T Human Postural Adaptation to Earthly and Atypical Gravitational Environment Effects of Sport Training on Stabilometric Parameters
%A Luisa Pizzigalli
%A Margherita Micheletti Cremasco
%A Elena Cremona
%A Alberto Rainoldi
%J Advances in Anthropology
%P 229-236
%@ 2163-9361
%D 2013
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/aa.2013.34032
%X <p style=\"text-align:justify;\">
	<span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Earthly gravitational
environment has been conditioned organisms evolutional transformations. Mankind
evolution in acquiring the upright posture changed functional anatomical
characteristics behaved in an almost stable environment (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">g </span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">= 9.81 m/s). Technological environment, up to the microgravity
conditions, faces peculiar gravitational conditions that may affect locomotion,
working capabilities and living situation. To understand human adapting
capacities, some systematic knowledge may come from the study of trained
persons such as those practising sports in different postures and environments.</span></span><b><span> </span></b><span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">The aims of this study are
to </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">investigate
whether long-term practice of a physical activity, in which body attitude and
postural regulation are organized in different ways, can influence postural
control and generate a ¡°postural memory¡±. Three groups of male athletes
(average age: 22 ¡À 3 years, weight: 69 ¡À 9 kg, height:
179.6 ¡À 5.5 cm) were studied in 26 athletes (runners, bikers and swimmers).
The protocol consisted of balance tests with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC) in
bipodalic and monopodalic conditions. Bikers showed a mean velocity lower than
swimmers both in EO (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">p</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> = .004) and EC
condition (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">p</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> = .03). Also for mean </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">velocity in M-L plane (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">p</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> = .02) and for perimeter length (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">p</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> = .003) during EO condition, bikers showed lower results.
Moreover, bikers showed a more posterior position of the centre of pressure
when compared to runners with EO (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">p</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> =
.02) and with EC (</span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">p</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> = .03). These
findings suggested that sport-specific physical training induce postural
modifications on upright stance. Within the main results concerning the
gravitational aspects appears paramount that
%K Human Posture
%K Postural Memory
%K Environmental Adaptations
%K Athletes
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=40192