Fig 7. Catch trials for 5% BW and no handrail hold condition.

Average catch trial response from the destabilizing (A and C) and stabilizing (B and D) perturbation trials. Catch trials during pre and post blocks applied forces for a single cycle, while catch trials in the perturbation block removed applied forces for a single cycle. Destabilizing forces demonstrated an additive effect with prolonged step-by-step perturbations producing larger changes compared to single cycle perturbations. Single cycle stabilizing perturbations produced larger changes compared to prolonged step-by-step perturbations likely due to the perturbation of COM movement opposite to the direction of movement. Removal of forces in the perturbation block demonstrates retained changes in both COM sway and step width for both perturbation types, indicating participants did adapt to the applied forces.