POSTURAL CONTROL AND GAIT ALTERATIONS IN YOUNG ADULT TOBACCO AND E-CIGARETTE USERS: A COMPARATIVE STABILOMETRIC AND TREADMILL-BASED ANALYSIS

The research investigates how tobacco and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) consumption affects postural control and walking patterns in young adult populations. The study included 60 participants who were divided into three groups of 20 each: non-smokers and traditional smokers and e-cigarette users. The participants completed stabilometric tests under static conditions with eyes open and closed while undergoing treadmill-based dynamic gait analysis. The researchers used parametric or non-parametric statistical tests together with Spearman’s correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised machine learning classifiers to analyze biomechanical features. The study revealed substantial differences between non-smokers and e-cigarette users regarding body mass index (BMI) and foot force distribution and walking speed and step length measurements. Correlation analyses revealed strong associations between center of pressure dynamics and plantar pressure distribution, with group-specific interaction patterns. PCA demonstrated partial group separation, especially for non-smokers versus e-cigarette users. Machine learning models, especially logistic regression, achieved the highest classification accuracy (up to 82.8%) in distinguishing non-smokers from e-cigarette users. These findings suggest that habitual use of tobacco or e-cigarettes may influence balance and locomotor control in subtle but measurable ways, with potential implications for neuromuscular health monitoring in young populations.