Determination of Body Segment Parameters and Their Effect in the Calculation of the Position of Center of Pressure During Postural Sway

In a previous paper [1], the position of the foot center of pressure of an average-built man was calculated and experimentally measured while moving the body together as a three-link inverted pendulum. The calculations gave almost the same results for center of pressure as did the measurements. However, when the center of pressure of a heavily built person was calculated with the same model, it was found not to agree with the experimental measurements when established tables for body segment parameters were used. In contrast, when a geometrical method for calculating body parameters was used which took the build of the subject into account, good agreement between measurements and calculations was obtained. Experimental and theoretical results using different methods to obtain body segment parameters are presented.