Vibration of the Whole Foot Soles Surface Using an Inexpensive Portable Device to Investigate Age-Related Alterations of Postural Control
Open Access
- 10 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Frontiers Media SA in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Abstract
Background: Standing on a foam surface is used to investigate how aging affect the ability to keep balance when somatosensory inputs from feet soles become unreliable. However, since standing on foam also affects the efficacy of postural adjustments, the respective contributions of sensory and motor components are impossible to separate. This study tested the hypothesis that these components can be untangled by comparing changes of center of pressure (CoP) parameters induced by standing on a foam pad vs. a novel vibration (VIB) platform developed by our team and targeting feet soles’ mechanoreceptors. Methods: Bipedal postural control of young (n = 20) and healthy elders (n = 20) was assessed while standing barefoot on a force platform through 3 randomized conditions: (1) Baseline (BL); (2) VIB; and (3) Foam. CoP Amplitude and Velocity in the antero-posterior/medio-lateral (AP/ML) directions and COP Surface were compared between conditions and groups. Findings: Both VIB and Foam increased CoP parameters compared to BL, but Foam had a significantly greater impact than VIB for both groups. Young and Old participants significantly differed for all three Conditions. However, when correcting for BL levels of postural performance, VIB-related increase of COP parameters was no longer different between groups, conversely to Foam. Interpretation: Although both VIB and Foam highlighted age-related differences of postural control, their combined use revealed that “motor” and “sensory” components are differently affected by aging, the latter being relatively unaltered, at least in healthy/active elders. The combined used of these methods could provide relevant knowledge to better understand and manage postural impairments in the aging population.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Clinical Test for the Sensory Interaction of BalanceAn International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Clinics, 2012
- Aging and visionVision Research, 2011
- Effects of plantar cutaneo-muscular and tendon vibration on posture and balance during quiet and perturbed stanceHuman Movement Science, 2011
- Motor control and aging: Links to age-related brain structural, functional, and biochemical effectsNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2010
- The effects of foam surface properties on standing body movementActa Oto-Laryngologica, 2008
- Aging of the Somatosensory System: A Translational PerspectivePTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, 2007
- Cutaneous afferents from human plantar sole contribute to body posture awarenessNeuroReport, 2002
- Foot sole and ankle muscle inputs contribute jointly to human erect posture regulationJournal Of Physiology-London, 2001
- Changes in Postural Control in Healthy Elderly Subjects are Related to Vibration Sensation, Vision and Vestibular AsymmetryActa Oto-Laryngologica, 2001
- Significance of Pressor Input from the Human Feet in Anterior-Posterior Postural Control: The Effect of Hypothermia on Vibration-Induced Body-swayActa Oto-Laryngologica, 1990