Levels of human postural stability during driving and handling a dog

• Grant number: 11/04209-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Eliane Mauerberg de Castro
• Grantee: Bruna Carla Périco
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/08272-7 - Influence of human-animal bond in human postural stability while conduction a dog, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Coordinated and synchronized activities between biological systems, such as the human controlling animals (eg, in the riding) illustrate how the human postural control being evolves in their levels of stability over a common task. Postural influences can also be observed during handling of dogs. The management and handling of dogs has been used in training protocols, physical activity and animal-assisted therapy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate, over a walk, human postural influences while handling a dog in terms of challenges to postural control. The challenges in experimental tasks of this study include restriction of base of support for the locomotion and visual deprivation. We supposed management and conduct of the dog will reflect in improved performance in the control of human gait, especially where vision is obstructed. The handling of dogs represents a kind of docking between two biological systems, similar to the "anchor" model described by Mauerberg-DeCastro and colleagues (2004). The human and the dog anchored to each other through a guide and influences posture during the task. Through a kinematic analysis, we will assess how to drive a dog is reflected in the levels of postural stability. The driving task is a locomotor task. It will participate of this study 10 individuals aged 20 to 30 years. Data collection will be held in four experimental conditions: 1) walk on a balance beam with vision and without dog, 2) walk on the beam with the vision and with dog; 3) walk on the beam without vision and without dog, 4) walking on the beam without vision and with dog.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PÉRICO, Bruna Carla. Efeito da percepção háptica obtidapor meio da condução de um cão na estabilidade locomotora do ser humano. 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro Rio Claro.