Linear sway-referencing control: center of pressure vs. center of mass

Sway-referenced control strategies based on center of pressure (COP) feedback and center of mass (COM) feedback were investigated using a linearly mobile platform (SLIP-FALLS). Four young adults (age range 24-32 years) were compared under the three sway test conditions: a fixed platform, a sway-referenced platform based on COP feedback, and a sway-referenced platform based on COM feedback. Data was analyzed using one-tailed t-tests on the variances of the anterior-posterior (AP) sway path. Only the COP feedback control system was shown to provide a significantly reduced sway path as compared to the static platform condition (p=0.01).