Abstract:

In contemporary healthcare, there is a growing need for the objective quantification and instrumental diagnostics of complex psychomotor interactions. Accurately assessing these interactions is essential for improved diagnostics and personalized interventions. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between cognitive functions and postural stability in physiotherapy students, with an emphasis on demonstrating how objective digital methods can quantify these interactions. Such quantification is crucial for innovation in education and for effectively linking theoretical knowledge with clinical practice.The research sample consisted of 40 students from the Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Care Professions, University of Prešov in Prešov. Postural stability was assessed using a dual-task protocol (quiet stance combined with cognitive tasks: attention, verbal fluency, memory) and the FootScan® baropodometric platform (Materialise Motion, Paal, Belgium). Measurements included analysis of lateral (right vs. left lower limb) and anteroposterior (forefoot vs. rearfoot) loading. Analysis of postural control during the dual-task condition significant asymmetries in reactions. While cognitive load did not statistically significantly affect the loading of the right lower limb (p > 0.05$), a significant effect was observed for the left lower limb (p = 0.02), suggesting a reorganization of postural control aimed at compensating for asymmetry. In the anteroposterior direction, cognitive tasks led to a statistically significant increase in forefoot loading (p = 0.01), with the strongest modulatory effect observed during the memory task. Rearfoot loading showed no significant adaptation (p = 1.00). The findings confirm the selective modulatory effect of cognitive functions on postural stability. Integrating instrumental diagnostics such as the FootScan® system into physiotherapy education is essential for visualizing and quantifying these complex interactions. Integrating these instrumental methods into education bridges the gap between theory and clinical practice, equipping future physiotherapists with the objective diagnostic skills necessary for evidence-based interventions.

Acknowledgement:
With the support of the projects VEGA 1/0382/24, Prevalence and diversification of musculoskeletal disorders in university students in relation to their health-related behaviors.

Keywords:

Postural Stability, Physiotherapy Education, Instrumental Diagnostics, Dual Task, Baropodometric Platform.