Reaction time as a simple measure of the intensity of balance exercise

Namen magistrskega dela je bil preveriti ali je lahko reakcijski čas mera relativne intenzivnosti ravnotežne naloge. Magistrsko delo je imelo naslednje cilje: (1) ugotoviti ponovljivost enostavnega reakcijskega časa na vidni dražljaj med izvedbo iste ravnotežne naloge(2) ugotoviti, ali se reakcijski čas na vidni dražljaj med stojo na različnih velikostih in stabilnostih podpornih površin razlikuje(3) ugotoviti, ali je podaljšanje reakcijskega časa na vidni dražljaj, povezano s povečanjem hitrosti oprijemališča sile reakcije podlage med ravnotežnimi nalogami in (4) ugotoviti, ali je sprememba reakcijskega časa na vidni dražljaj, lahko mera relativne intenzivnosti ravnotežnih nalog. V raziskavi je prostovoljno sodelovalo 20 naključno izbranih, zdravih in nepoškodovanih odraslih oseb, od tega 12 moških in 8 žensk, ki pa niso bili v rednem procesu treninga. Njihova povprečna starost je bila 23,8 ± 7,1 let, povprečna telesna masa 71,9 ± 10,6 kg in povprečna telesna višina 175,3 ± 8,8 cm. Preizkušanci so tekom meritev izvedli šest ponovitev sonožne stoje na trdi in mehki podlagi, enonožne stoje na trdi in mehki podlagi ter tandemske stoje na trdi in mehki podlagi. Naloga preizkušancev je bila izvedba dvojne naloge, in sicer ob hkratnem vzdrževanju izbranega ravnotežnega položaja čim hitreje pritisniti stikalo po pojavu svetlobnega signala. Med izvajanjem ravnotežnih nalog smo preko pritiskovne plošče spremljali hitrost gibanja oprijemališča sile reakcije podlage in reakcijski čas na svetlobni signal. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali, da se povečuje absolutna intenzivnost ravnotežne naloge, z zmanjševanjem velikosti in stabilnosti podporne površine med stojo in da enostavni reakcijski čas ne moremo uporabiti kot mero relativne intenzivnosti med upravljanjem drže in ravnotežja v stoji.The purpose of this master thesis was to determine whether reaction time can be a measure of the relative intensity of balance exercise. The master thesis had the following goals: (1) determine repeatability of simple reaction time to visual stimulus while performing the same balance exercise(2) determine whether standing on support surfaces of various sizes and stability has any influence on reaction time to visual stimulus(3) determine whether prolonging reaction time to visual stimulus is connected with the increased velocity of center of pressure while performing balance exercises and (4) determine whether changing reaction time of visual stimulus can be a measure of relative intensity of balance exercises. A total of 20 randomly selected volunteers were surveyed in the study, of which 12 were males and 8 were females. They did not train on a regular basis. Their average age was 23.8 ± 7.1 years, their average body mass was 71.9 ± 10.6 kg and their average height was 175.3 ± 8.8 cm. Test subjects performed 6 repetitions of bilateral stance on a soft and on a hard surface, unilateral stance on a soft and on a hard surface and tandem stance on a soft and on a hard surface. Test subjects were tasked with performing a dual task of maintaining a given balance position while at the same time pressing a switch as fast as possible when the light signal turned on. While performing balance exercises, we kept track of velocity of center of pressure and reaction time to the light signal using a force plate. Results showed that absolute intensity of balance exercise increases with the decrease of size and stability of the support surface and that simple reaction time cannot be used as a measure of relative intensity while maintaining gait and balance in the standing position