Abstract
[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of pulling a lower garment up and down with one upper limb while leaning over a handrail. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects pulled short pants up and down with one upper limb while leaning over a handrail and without using the handrail. We analyzed the time, center of gravity sway, the rectangular area of center of gravity sway, and the ratio of and moving distance of the ear lobe in the sagittal plane. [Results] Center of gravity sway, its rectangular area, and the distance moved by the ear lobe were significantly lower when using the handrail than when not using it. A positive correlation was found between the center of gravity sway and its rectangular area while pulling up short pants, and between the rectangular area and the distance moved by the ear lobe while pulling down short pants. [Conclusion] These results suggest that pulling a lower garment up and down with one upper limb while leaning on a handrail is effective at stabilizing standing balance.
