Abstract
We studied the effects of lumbar and gluteus medius muscle supporters on healthy person's standing position and lateral movement with change of the supporter's application. We measured the postural sway and performed the right and left functional reach test (lateral FRT) for 18 healthy people (mean age 27.0 ± 8.3). With the application of both lumbar and gluteus medius muscle supporters, significant decreases in the total length of sway path and rectangular area with both legs in standing, and the length of lateral FRT were shown. With the application of soft supporter, we found a stabilizing action on both legs in standing, and a gluteus medius muscle supporter restricted the reach in lateral FRT. The possibility of increasing the right and left stability with a supporter was suggested.
