The Effects of Subthreshold Vibration on Balance Recovery in Young Adults
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| Title: | The Effects of Subthreshold Vibration on Balance Recovery in Young Adults |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Chimerem O. Amiaka, Daniel C. Anzovino, Claire V. Buckridan, Craig D. Tokuno |
| Source: | International Journal of Kinesiology in Higher Education. 2025 9(2):140-150. |
| Availability: | Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Young Adults, Physical Therapy, Psychomotor Skills, Stimuli, Outcomes of Treatment |
| DOI: | 10.1080/24711616.2024.2447434 |
| ISSN: | 2471-1616 2471-1624 |
| Abstract: | Falls are a major cause of injuries in young adults and occur due to an inability to recover from a loss of balance. Since previous studies have reported that applying subthreshold vibration to the foot sole enhances tactile feedback and improves standing balance, this study aimed to extend these findings by examining whether vibration also improves one's ability to recover from a loss of balance. Eighteen young adults (22.9 ± 3.2 y) stood on vibrating tactors that could stimulate the heel, first and fifth metatarsals at 90% of the sensory threshold. From this standing position, the surface on which participants were standing was rapidly translated in the forward or backward direction to cause participants to unexpectedly lose their balance. For half of the surface translation trials, the vibrating tactors were activated to increase tactile feedback. In response to each surface translation, center of mass (COM) displacement and stepping responses were analyzed as indicators of balance recovery. Results indicated that while vibration induced a 1.5 ± 0.4 mm (p = 0.039) greater COM displacement at 200 ms after the onset of a backward translation, the number of stepping responses and the COM displacement were not different between vibration conditions for all other times and translation directions. This suggests that increasing tactile feedback via sub-threshold vibration does not functionally improve balance recovery in young adults. While vibration may not be beneficial for reactive balance control in young adults, future studies could explore whether the effects of vibration are more prominent in individuals with reduced tactile sensation (e.g. older adults). |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1471051 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Falls are a major cause of injuries in young adults and occur due to an inability to recover from a loss of balance. Since previous studies have reported that applying subthreshold vibration to the foot sole enhances tactile feedback and improves standing balance, this study aimed to extend these findings by examining whether vibration also improves one's ability to recover from a loss of balance. Eighteen young adults (22.9 ± 3.2 y) stood on vibrating tactors that could stimulate the heel, first and fifth metatarsals at 90% of the sensory threshold. From this standing position, the surface on which participants were standing was rapidly translated in the forward or backward direction to cause participants to unexpectedly lose their balance. For half of the surface translation trials, the vibrating tactors were activated to increase tactile feedback. In response to each surface translation, center of mass (COM) displacement and stepping responses were analyzed as indicators of balance recovery. Results indicated that while vibration induced a 1.5 ± 0.4 mm (p = 0.039) greater COM displacement at 200 ms after the onset of a backward translation, the number of stepping responses and the COM displacement were not different between vibration conditions for all other times and translation directions. This suggests that increasing tactile feedback via sub-threshold vibration does not functionally improve balance recovery in young adults. While vibration may not be beneficial for reactive balance control in young adults, future studies could explore whether the effects of vibration are more prominent in individuals with reduced tactile sensation (e.g. older adults). |
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| ISSN: | 2471-1616 2471-1624 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/24711616.2024.2447434 |
