Coordination of hip and spine to maintain equilibrium in unstable sitting revealed by spectral analysis

Abstract

This is the first multidirectional spectral analysis of how the hip and spine coordinate during unstable sitting and how different factors impact this coordination. Seat movement was coherently counteracted (out-of-phase) by angular motion of the hip and lower lumbar spine in the sagittal plane and by the lumbar spine in the frontal plane. Although higher BMI and balancing with eyes closed increased movement amplitude, this did not compromise coordination between segments to control balance, instead, coherence increased.