Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2011
Abstract
Fields studying movement generation, including robotics, psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience utilize concepts and tools related to the pervasiveness of variability in biological systems. The concept of variability and the measures for nonlinear dynamics used to evaluate this concept open new vistas for research in movement dysfunction of many types. This review describes innovations in the exploration of variability and their potential importance in understanding human movement. Far from being a source of error, evidence supports the presence of an optimal state of variability for healthy and functional movement. This variability has a particular organization and is characterized by a chaotic structure. Deviations from this state can lead to biological systems that are either overly rigid and robotic or noisy and unstable. Both situations result in systems that are less adaptable to perturbations, such as those associated with unhealthy pathological states or absence of skillfulness.
Journal Title
Human Movement Science
Volume
30
Issue
5
First Page
869
Last Page
888
Recommended Citation
Stergiou, Nikolaos and Decker, Leslie M., "Human Movement Variability, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Pathology: Is There A Connection?" (2011). Journal Articles. 75.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/biomechanicsarticles/75
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Comments
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Human Movement Science. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Human Movement Science, Vol. 30, Issue 5 (October 2011) DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2011.06.002.