Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance Measures
The plantar surfaces of the feet are important for balance control during walking, specifically by allowing for the perception of pressure movements during stance. <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The current study aimed to perturb CoP movement perception in healthy individuals by applying...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Christopher P. Engsberg Nathaniel H. Hunt Steven Barlow Mukul Mukherjee |
| author_facet | Christopher P. Engsberg Nathaniel H. Hunt Steven Barlow Mukul Mukherjee |
| author_sort | Christopher P. Engsberg |
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| description | The plantar surfaces of the feet are important for balance control during walking, specifically by allowing for the perception of pressure movements during stance. <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The current study aimed to perturb CoP movement perception in healthy individuals by applying vibrations to the soles of the feet in different stimulation sequences: a natural pattern that followed CoP movement (<i>gait-like</i>) and a perturbing pattern that did not follow the CoP (<i>random</i>) during walking. We hypothesized that the <i>gait-like</i> stimulation sequence would be similar to walking without any stimulation and therefore have no effect on balance measures and that the <i>random</i> sequence would negatively affect balance measures such as the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) margins of stability (MoSs) and foot placement area. <b>Methods</b>: Subjects walked at a level angle and 5.0 and 8.0 degrees of incline and with low visual conditions to increase reliance on tactile sensations from the feet. <b>Results</b>: No significant effect of the stimulation sequence was found at any incline, while there was a significant effect of incline. As the incline increased from level to 5 deg, subjects reduced their AP MoS measured at heel strikes from 4.36 ± 0.56 cm to 1.95 ± 1.07 cm and increased their foot placement area from 24.04 ± 11.13 cm<sup>2</sup> to 38.98 ± 17.47 cm<sup>2</sup>. However, the AP MoS measured at midstance did not significantly change as the incline increased. <b>Conclusions</b>: The stimulation sequence had no effect on the dependent measures, but the subjects could still feel the vibrations on the plantar surfaces during walking; this implies that similar stimulation techniques could be a useful method for applying directive biofeedback without negatively impacting gait. Overall, this study demonstrates the detailed control of our tactile system and the adaptability of healthy individuals while walking with a perturbing stimulation. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-6355fcc1caaa4fde88fe26084b1788e52025-08-20T03:12:11ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-01-0115213810.3390/brainsci15020138Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance MeasuresChristopher P. Engsberg0Nathaniel H. Hunt1Steven Barlow2Mukul Mukherjee3Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USADepartment of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USACenter for Brain, Biology, and Behavior, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USADepartment of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USAThe plantar surfaces of the feet are important for balance control during walking, specifically by allowing for the perception of pressure movements during stance. <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The current study aimed to perturb CoP movement perception in healthy individuals by applying vibrations to the soles of the feet in different stimulation sequences: a natural pattern that followed CoP movement (<i>gait-like</i>) and a perturbing pattern that did not follow the CoP (<i>random</i>) during walking. We hypothesized that the <i>gait-like</i> stimulation sequence would be similar to walking without any stimulation and therefore have no effect on balance measures and that the <i>random</i> sequence would negatively affect balance measures such as the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) margins of stability (MoSs) and foot placement area. <b>Methods</b>: Subjects walked at a level angle and 5.0 and 8.0 degrees of incline and with low visual conditions to increase reliance on tactile sensations from the feet. <b>Results</b>: No significant effect of the stimulation sequence was found at any incline, while there was a significant effect of incline. As the incline increased from level to 5 deg, subjects reduced their AP MoS measured at heel strikes from 4.36 ± 0.56 cm to 1.95 ± 1.07 cm and increased their foot placement area from 24.04 ± 11.13 cm<sup>2</sup> to 38.98 ± 17.47 cm<sup>2</sup>. However, the AP MoS measured at midstance did not significantly change as the incline increased. <b>Conclusions</b>: The stimulation sequence had no effect on the dependent measures, but the subjects could still feel the vibrations on the plantar surfaces during walking; this implies that similar stimulation techniques could be a useful method for applying directive biofeedback without negatively impacting gait. Overall, this study demonstrates the detailed control of our tactile system and the adaptability of healthy individuals while walking with a perturbing stimulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/2/138biomechanicsfeedbacksensoryonlinetouchhaptics |
| spellingShingle | Christopher P. Engsberg Nathaniel H. Hunt Steven Barlow Mukul Mukherjee Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance Measures Brain Sciences biomechanics feedback sensory online touch haptics |
| title | Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance Measures |
| title_full | Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance Measures |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance Measures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance Measures |
| title_short | Effect of Vibro-Tactile Stimulation Sequence and Support Surface Inclination on Gait and Balance Measures |
| title_sort | effect of vibro tactile stimulation sequence and support surface inclination on gait and balance measures |
| topic | biomechanics feedback sensory online touch haptics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/2/138 |
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