The Cardio-postural Control System
Cardiopostural Measurements:
Quiet stance positioning and instrumentation: (Centre) Profile view. (Left) EMG electrode. (Right, top) BP finger cuff electrode. (Right, bottom) Heel positioning on force plate.
The Cardiopostural model
The coloured regions indicate the physiological systems of which interactions are being studied to further validate the model. Eyes were closed for this study.
The Effect of Exercise on the Cardio-Postural Relationship
This study aims to improve our understanding of orthostatic hypotension which can lead to syncope and falls through the investigation of the integration of the cardiovascular and postural control systems under orthostatic stress. Additionally, this study will investigate the effect of natural hormone level variations on this cardio-postural relationship in female participants.
The Effect of Head Injury on the Relationship Between Cardiovascular and Postural Controls
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the cardiovascular and postural control systems following a head injury. Characterization of changes in this relationship will contribute to the understanding of symptom recovery, post concussion syndrome, the high rate of re-injury upon return to sports, and possibly provide insight into second impact syndrome (sudden death upon sustaining two or more subsequent mild traumatic brain injuries).
Publications
Garg A, Xu D, Laurin A, and Blaber AP (2014). Physiological interdependence of the cardiovascular and postural control systems under orthostatic stress. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 307: H259–H264, 2014. PMID: 24858845
Garg A, Xu D, Blaber AP. (2013) Statistical validation of wavelet transform coherence method to assess the transfer of calf muscle activation to blood pressure during quiet standing. BioMedical Engineering OnLine 12:132.
Blaber AP, Landrock CK and Souvestre PA (2009) Cardio-postural deconditioning: a model for post flight orthostatic intolerance. Resp Physiol Neurobiol. 169(Suppl 1):S21-S25 PMID 19048097
Conference papers
Garg A, Xu D, Blaber AP. (2014). Posture muscle relationship with cardiovascular changes under orthostatic challenge. Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.
Garg,A., Xu, D., Bruner, M., Blaber A P. (2014). Alteration in cardiovascular and postural control relationship in non-fainting elderly individuals. Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
Garg, A., Blaber, AP. (2012) Wavelet transform coherence based investigation of existence of relationship between the cardiovascular and postural control systems during orthostatic challenge. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2012;2012:3588-91. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2012.6346742 PMID: 23637139