Tactile plantar stimulation in sensory deficits improves postural control

NewsBot · May 2, 2009

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Can tactile plantar stimulation improve postural control of persons with superficial plantar sensory deficit?
Bernard-Demanze L, Vuillerme N, Ferry M, Berger L.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2009 Feb;21(1):62-8.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Complex interactions between visual, vestibular and somatosensory information and the cerebellar system are involved in the maintenance of upright posture. Previous studies have shown that normal aging and pathologies may lead to deterioration of the control of upright standing posture. METHODS: In order to investigate postural control during quiet standing in the elderly, the center of pressure (CoP) was analysed on two force platforms in three different groups. The first group was composed of 13 healthy older adults (O), the second consisted of 9 older adults with plantar sole deficit (OD), and the third (control) group was composed of 8 young healthy subjects (Y). All subjects were tested with eyes closed, before and after tactile plantar stimulation lasting ten minutes. Center of pressure displacements were analyzed in terms of sway area, mean velocity, and mean root mean square (RMS) along both mediolateral and antero-posterior axes. RESULTS: Results showed that, before tactile plantar stimulation, the sway area and mean RMS were greater in O and OD subjects compared with Y ones. After tactile plantar stimulation, a decrease in the mean RMS was observed in OD subjects, this effect being significant only for the medio-lateral axis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that application of tactile plantar stimulation may compensate a loss of superficial plantar sensitivity.
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Admin2 · May 3, 2009

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Other threads tagged with postural stability

NewsBot · Dec 23, 2009

Subsensory vibrations to the feet reduce gait variability in elderly fallers.
Galica AM, Kang HG, Priplata AA, D'Andrea SE, Starobinets OV, Sorond FA, Cupples LA, Lipsitz LA.
Gait Posture. 2009 Oct;30(3):383-7.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of subsensory vibratory noise applied to the soles of the feet on gait variability in a population of elderly recurrent fallers compared to non-fallers and young controls. Eighteen elderly recurrent fallers and 18 elderly non-fallers were recruited from the MOBILIZE Boston Study (MBS), a population-based cohort study investigating novel risk factors for falls. Twelve young participants were included as controls. Participants performed three 6-min walking trials while wearing a pair of insoles containing vibrating actuators. During each trial, the noise stimulus was applied for 3 of the 6min, and differences in stride, stance, and swing time variability were analyzed between noise and no-noise conditions. The use of vibrating insoles significantly reduced stride, stance, and swing time variability measures for elderly recurrent fallers. Elderly non-fallers also demonstrated significant reductions in stride and stance time variability. Although young participants showed decreases in all variability measures, the results did not achieve statistical significance. Gait variability reductions with noise were similar between the elderly recurrent fallers and elderly non-fallers. This study supports the hypothesis that subsensory vibratory noise applied to the soles of the feet can reduce gait variability in elderly participants. Future studies are needed to determine if this intervention reduces falls risk.
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NewsBot · Jul 7, 2018

Effects of plantar sensitivity on balance and mobility in community-dwelling older adults: A Turkish study.
Ünver B et al
Australas J Ageing. 2018 Jul 6.

OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of regional plantar tactile sensitivity with balance and mobility in community-dwelling older people.

METHODS:
Fifty-five older adults (39 women and 16 men) mean age 73.5 ± 6.5 years participated in the study. Plantar tactile sensitivity was assessed at nine regions of the foot using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. Balance and mobility of the subjects were evaluated with Berg Balance Scale and Rivermead Mobility Index, respectively.

RESULTS:
Plantar tactile sensitivity was not significantly correlated with balance and mobility scores. No significant differences were obtained when balance and mobility scores were compared between subjects with and without plantar sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS:
This study revealed that plantar tactile sensory was not associated with balance and mobility functions in older adults. This result may be related to the protection of other sensory systems supporting the maintenance of balance and mobility functions in physically active community-dwelling older people.
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NewsBot · Jan 28, 2019

Enhancing Foot Somatosensory Inputs by Barefoot Practice Optimizes the Effects of Physical Activity on Plantar Sensation and Postural Control in Institutionalized Older Adults: Pilot Study.
Korchi K et al
J Aging Phys Act. 2019 Jan 24:1-36

Increasing somatosensory information from the foot by exercising barefoot can potentially optimize the effectiveness of physical exercise interventions on falls prevention in the older adults. This pilot study was then undertaken in order to explore the effects of increased somatosensory information from the foot by exercising barefoot on balance, gait and plantar cutaneous sensitivity in institutionalized older adults involved in multimodal exercise intervention. Participants were assigned to three groups: a control group which did not perform any physical exercise and two groups in which they were involved in a multimodal exercise program performed barefoot or shod. Postural, gait and plantar cutaneous sensitivity parameters were collected. The results showed that the exercise program produced larger effects on balance and plantar cutaneous sensitivity when exercises were performed barefoot, without any noticeable effect on gait. Hence barefoot exercising could be a relevant means to optimize the fall-prevention exercise programs in institutionalized older adults.
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NewsBot · Nov 14, 2022

Balance effects of tactile stimulation at the foot
Jung Hyun Park et al
Hum Mov Sci. 2022 Nov 9

Balance relies on several types of sensory information, including somatosensory senses such as touch and position sense (proprioception). As these senses decline in older adults, there is a question of whether shoes limit somatosensory feedback from the floor. Textured insoles are designed to stimulate the soles of the feet to enhance tactile feedback. Textured insoles have shown balance benefits in some populations, but it is unclear if such tactile stimulation improves a person's balance even in cushioned athletic shoes, which dampen proprioceptive signals. Here we ask whether tactile vs. proprioceptive cues contribute differently to balance control in the healthy somatosensory system. We assessed balance in 20 healthy young adults under four footwear conditions: cushioned shoes with regular insoles, cushioned shoes with textured insoles, barefoot, and minimalist shoes. Each condition was evaluated using the Y-Balance Test (YBT) and the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), validated tests of dynamic and static balance, respectively. YBT is a dynamic reaching test performed on one leg. The BESS includes various stance conditions with eyes closed. The results showed that footwear influenced dynamic balance only, with textured insoles leading to significantly better performance than barefoot and minimalist shoes did in the YBT. These results suggest that at least for dynamic balance, balance benefits of tactile stimulation from the textured insoles offset any dampening of proprioception caused by the athletic shoes' cushioning. Future research on how these conditions compare in older adults may lead to improved footwear recommendations to reduce fall risk and injuries for that population.
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NewsBot · Jan 23, 2023

Balance effects of tactile stimulation at the foot
Jung HyunParkRhea F.BensonKatherine D.MorganRomaMatharuHannah J.Block
Human Movement Science; Volume 87, February 2023, 103024

Balance relies on several types of sensory information, including somatosensory senses such as touch and position sense (proprioception). As these senses decline in older adults, there is a question of whether shoes limit somatosensory feedback from the floor. Textured insoles are designed to stimulate the soles of the feet to enhance tactile feedback. Textured insoles have shown balance benefits in some populations, but it is unclear if such tactile stimulation improves a person's balance even in cushioned athletic shoes, which dampen proprioceptive signals. Here we ask whether tactile vs. proprioceptive cues contribute differently to balance control in the healthy somatosensory system. We assessed balance in 20 healthy young adults under four footwear conditions: cushioned shoes with regular insoles, cushioned shoes with textured insoles, barefoot, and minimalist shoes. Each condition was evaluated using the Y-Balance Test (YBT) and the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), validated tests of dynamic and static balance, respectively. YBT is a dynamic reaching test performed on one leg. The BESS includes various stance conditions with eyes closed. The results showed that footwear influenced dynamic balance only, with textured insoles leading to significantly better performance than barefoot and minimalist shoes did in the YBT. These results suggest that at least for dynamic balance, balance benefits of tactile stimulation from the textured insoles offset any dampening of proprioception caused by the athletic shoes' cushioning. Future research on how these conditions compare in older adults may lead to improved footwear recommendations to reduce fall risk and injuries for that population.
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