Background: Loss of postural stability may result in postural imbalance and can increase the risk of slips and falls in the workplace.
Objective: This study intended to provide new insight into the effects of noise on postural stability when in the standing position.
Methods: Twenty healthy subjects voluntarily participated in this study. Their postural stability was analysed using a baropodometry platform under 4 different sets of conditions: i) standing position, without any noise and without wearing ear protectors; ii) standing position, without any noise and wearing ear protectors; iii) standing position, with noise and without wearing ear protectors; iv) standing position, with noise and wearing ear protectors.
Results: The results showed that noise at different sound frequencies (400, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz) at a level of 95-100 dBA did not affect the participants' postural stability when in the standing position.
Conclusions: No significant differences were found in postural balance when participants were exposed to sound with or without ear protectors. Short duration, sensory inputs (i.e. vision) and the absence of physical workloads appear to facilitate postural stability.
Keywords: Balance; noise; stability.