Implementation of Optimal Feedback Control to Model the Seated Postural Stability of Healthy and Spinal Cord-Injured Subjects

Postural control may be severely compromised in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Disturbance moments such as the ones experienced during normal driving may overwhelm the compensatory mechanisms in this population. Possible instability raises concerns about both comfort and, especially, safety for both passengers and drivers [1,2]. The goal of this research was to generate a computer model which could be used to investigate the effects of sustained disturbances on seated balance.