Influence of Hand Help Pressure on Body Sway and Leg Muscle Activity during One-Leg Stance

Aims: This study aimed to examine the effects of the position and pressure of the hand during hand help on body sway and leg muscle activity during OLS.

Study Design: Fifteen elderly subjects (71.5 ± 3.9 years) performed OLS with and without hand help for 30 s.

Methodology: The test with hand help was performed for six tasks with different hand positions (forward and sideward) and varying amounts of pressure (free, light, and strong). The data of the 14 elderly subjects who performed 30-s OLS were analysed.

Results: Body sway was greater in the light pressure condition than in the free and strong pressure conditions, but only in the forward hand position. It was greater in the forward position than in the sideward position in the free and light pressure conditions. The leg muscles tended to be the most active with light hand help.

Conclusion: Even if the elderly use free and light hand help pressure in sideward hand help, hand help pressure has little effect on postural stability because of sufficient postural stability. However, in the case of forward hand help, using light hand help pressure activates the leg muscles due to the loss of stable posture.