Effect of traditional floor sitting on postural control after standing.

Seiza is a Japanese traditional floor sitting style, sitting down with both legs set at about a 180 degree angle and both femurs on both lower legs. We examined the influence of the somatic dysesthesia and decrease in voluntary toe flexion strength (VTF) induced by Seiza on the center of pressure (COP) sway. Fifteen adults participated in this experiment. COP Sway was measured immediately after a chair resting (pre-test), when a plantar dysethesia occurred (post-test A), and when a decrease (under 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)) in the VTF set in (post-test B). Tissue oxygenation kinetics in the soleus muscle and plantar somatosensory thresholds (ST) were measured just before each COP test and during Seiza. From starting Seiza, oxygenated hemoglobin/myoglobin decreased markedly and reached a plateau within about 6 min. ST abruptly increased at about 19 min from starting Seiza. VTF decreased to less than 30% MVC in 33% of the participants after 10 min from the acute increase in ST, and in 100% after 20 min. When sustaining Seiza for 19 min, ST rose and sway velocity and antero-posterior sway increased. With continued Seiza, VTF decreased to below 30% MVC at 10 - 20 min, and the above stated body sway further markedly increase.