Cardiovascular response to anticipatory and reactionary postural perturbations in young adults.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Repeated-measures non-randomized experimental laboratory study in healthy humans
PubMed 37458232 · doi:10.1113/EP091173
What was done
Twenty healthy young adults stood on a treadmill and experienced two perturbation conditions (anticipatory vs. reactionary) across two intensity levels (requiring a step vs. no step). Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were continuously measured from 3 seconds before to 8 seconds after perturbation. Responses were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures statistical non-parametric mapping tests, and perceived state anxiety scores were correlated with post-perturbation HR changes.
What was found
HR was significantly elevated in higher-intensity perturbations (Step vs. No Step) at 0.56–1.32 s (P < 0.0001) and 1.92–3.44 s (P < 0.0001) post-perturbation. No significant differences in HR were observed between perturbation types (anticipatory vs. reactionary), and no significant differences were observed in SBP between perturbation types or intensity levels. Perceived state anxiety did not differ across conditions but correlated with the change in HR post-perturbation (P = 0.013). Absolute baseline and peak values for HR and SBP were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study indicates that cardiovascular adjustments following external postural disturbances are predominantly regulated by reflexive rather than feedforward anticipatory mechanisms in healthy young individuals, establishing a physiological reference point for balance research.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 20) and restricted to healthy young adults, limiting generalizability to older adults or clinical populations with balance disorders. Exact physiological values (e.g., baseline and peak HR in beats per minute, SBP in mmHg, or correlation coefficients) were omitted from the abstract.
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