Influence of limb dominance on compensatory foot contacts during unilateral standing in adults with reduced plantar sensation.

BACKGROUND

Postural stability during unilateral stance is an important indicator of functional independence and fall risk in older adults. However, the compensatory strategies used to maintain balance under conditions of sensory impairment remain unclear. This study investigated how limb dominance affects postural control, which was measured by the duration and frequency of contralateral foot contacts during unilateral stance in adults with reduced plantar sensation.

METHODS

Thirty-eight right-limb dominant individuals with reduced plantar foot sensation and 33 control participants were included in the study. Plantar sensation was assessed using monofilaments, and participants performed 10-s one-leg standing trials on each limb. The duration and occurrence of contralateral foot touchdown on the force plate were analyzed across three repeated trials.

FINDINGS: A significant group interaction on limb dominance was observed in contralateral touch duration (F = 9.92, p = 0.01). The reduced plantar foot sensation group showed a significant increase in contralateral touch duration during trial 1 (t = -2.66, p = 0.01), trial 2 (t = -3.12, p = 0.001), and trial 3 (t = -3.10, p = 0.001) when standing on the non-dominant limb.

INTERPRETATION: Limb dominance significantly affects postural control in individuals with reduced plantar sensation. The persistent reliance on contralateral foot contacts during non-dominant limb stance across repeated trials suggests limited short-term improvement in balance behavior in individuals with reduced plantar sensation. These findings highlight the importance of considering limb dominance when designing balance interventions for older adults with sensory impairments.