Journal of Applied Physiology
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J Appl Physiol 90: 205-215, 2001;
8750-7587/01 $5.00
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Vol. 90, Issue 1, 205-215, January 2001

Static and dynamic postural control in long-term microgravity: evidence of a dual adaptation

Guido Baroni1,2, Alessandra Pedrocchi1,2, Giancarlo Ferrigno1,2, Jean Massion3, and Antonio Pedotti1,2

1 Centro di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, I-20148 Milan; and 2 Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, I-20133 Milan, Italy; and 3 Laboratory of Neurobiology and Movements, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 13402 Cédex 20 Marseille, France

The adaptation of dynamic movement-posture coordination during forward trunk bending was investigated in long-term weightlessness. Three-dimensional movement analysis was carried out in two astronauts during a 4-mo microgravity exposure. The principal component analysis was applied to joint-angle kinematics for the assessment of angular synergies. The anteroposterior center of mass (CM) displacement accompanying trunk flexion was also quantified. The results reveal that subjects kept typically terrestrial strategies of movement-posture coordination. The temporary disruption of joint-angular synergies observed at subjects' first in-flight session was promptly recovered when repetitive sessions in flight were analyzed. The CM anteroposterior shift was consistently <3-4 cm, suggesting that subjects could dynamically control the CM position throughout the whole flight. This is in contrast to the observed profound microgravity-induced disruption of the quasi-static body orientation and initial CM positioning. Although this study was based on only two subjects, evidence is provided that static and dynamic postural control might be under two separate mechanisms, adapting with their specific time course to the constraints of microgravity.

motor control; posture; sensorimotor adaptation; motion analysis


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