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Adequate postural balance depends on the spatial and temporal integration of vestibular, visual, and somatosensory
information. Especially, the musculoskeletal function (range of joint, flexibility of spine, muscular strength) is essential
in maintaining the postural balance. Muscular strength training methods include the use of commercialized devices and
repeatable resistance training tools (rubber band, ball, etc). These training systems cost high price and can't control of
intensity. Thus we suggest a new training system which can adjust training intensity and indicate the center of pressure
of a subject while the training was passively controlled by applying controlled electric current to the Magneto-
Rheological damper. And we performed experimental studies on the muscular activities in the lower extremities during
maintaining, moving and pushing exercises on an unstable platform with Magneto rheological dampers. A subject
executed the maintaining, moving and pushing exercises which were displayed in a monitor. The electromyographic
signals of the eight muscles in lower extremities were recorded and analyzed in the time and frequency domain: the
muscles of interest were rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tensor fasciae latae, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis,
gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and soleus. The experimental results showed the difference of muscular activities at the
four moving exercises and the nine maintaining exercises. The rate of the increase in the muscular activities was affected
by the condition of the unstable platform with MR dampers for the maintaining and moving exercises. The experimental
results suggested the choice of different maintaining and moving exercises could selectively train different muscles with
varying intensity. Furthermore, the findings also suggested the training using this system can improve the ability of
postural balance.
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