Effects of body control and attention on body sway induced by a tilting room

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of body control and attention on body sway that was induced by a "tilting room". With an initial instruction, 18 subjects were divided into two groups: target and body attention groups, and then stood on a stabilometer in a room that tilted forwardly. Body sway that was induced by the tilting room was measured with the stabilometer. During the training session, subjects received Dohsa training (Naruse, 1973) in order to control their body movement. Analyses indicated the following: (1) Subjects swayed in the same direction as tilting of the room; (2) No difference in the body sway was found for the two groups before training; and (3) After training, subjects increased the controllable area on the stabilometer and learned to use their bodily sensation better. Subjects in the target attention group had a greater increase in body sway than the other group. These results suggest that adult flexibility appeared in an ecological situation where conflicting information was received through visual and bodily sensation.