Question

What is it about standing on the foam that makes it so difficult to stabilize your body? More specifically,

which sensory system is being disrupted, and how?

Answer 1

Somatosensory inputs are disturbed ,Standing on foam, makes it more difficult to use somatosensory inputs

While standing, sensory receptors located on the soles of the feet, contribute to our maintenance of postural stability, as they are able to sense pressure distribution and body orientation. When standing on foam, the information from the mechanoreceptors of the feet is believed to become less reliable , which increases postural sway or imbalance, Foam also offers smaller opposing mechanical resistance, which makes it more difficult to handle the imbalances. In addition to this, vision stabilizes the anteroposterior head and shoulder movements more than anteroposterior hip and knee movements while standing on foam, hence making it difficult to stablize your body, when standing on foam.