Postural adjustments and bearing angle use in interceptive actions

Abstract

The experiment investigates the effect of ball velocity and walking direction on the adherence to the bearing angle (BA) strategy in adults. Adult participants (N=12) approached a moving ball in order to manually intercept it at a predefined target area. Results revealed that during locomotion the BA strategy was implemented, but on reaching the point of interception, this strategy broke down and the BA strategy of the wrist compensated for the movement requirements relative to the ball velocity and approach angle. Larger deviations from the BA occurred when the angle of approach was decreased and when the ball velocity increased. When the BA strategy was adhered to, postural adjustments were reduced. Increased movements occurred in a proximal-distal direction with an increasing approach angle and a faster ball velocity.