Postural control, exercise physiology and the balance training - type of exercises, mechanisms and insights

Postural health, today more than ever, is becoming a big part of everyday life, and is associated with the biomechanical analysis of the human body. Balance is defined as the maintenance of the vertical projection of the body's center of mass (COM) onto the support area formed by the feet. The center of gravity (CoG) is defined as the vertical projection of the COM onto the ground. The center of pressure (CoP) is the point of application of the resultant ground reaction force. Aging is associated with a reduction in both physical and cognitive functions of the human body, which also involves the likeliness in the occurrence of age-related diseases. To have good quality of life and to be able to practice sports, both at an amateur and competitive level, it is necessary to educate the body in the execution of biomechanically correct movements. Some studies have suggested that only specific exercise programs could stimulate the postural system. Such physical activity stimulates reaction time, cognitive performance, sensory stimulation, and social interaction. This contributes to improving neuroplasticity. However, the scientific literature does not sufficiently clarify the specific type of physical activity, or the minimum intensity required to provide optimal benefits. The aim of this Research Topic is to clarify a which training programs are most functional to improve balance and how to use technologies for their evaluation.

Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

The psycho-physiological mechanisms involved in the benefits of exercise for postural control, and which modality of exercise training (type of exercise, intensity, duration, frequency, etc.) is more effective.
Neural plasticity in relation to balance training.
Novel tools and tests for balance assessment and fall-risk prediction.
Studies examining the optimal approaches to promote balance training using wearable technologies.
Physical education and technologies.