Subsensory Stochastic Vibratory Stimulation to Assess and Improve Aging Related Proprioceptive Deficits Associated With Balance Recovery
University of Arizona
Summary
Falls are the primary cause of traumatic injury in older adults, and tripping is the leading cause of falls. A robust method for improving aging-related proprioceptive deficits is lacking, while strong evidence shows that proprioception deficits are highly associated with poor balance recovery from tripping. Previous research suggested that stochastic vibratory stimulation (SVS) can influence proprioception (i.e., muscle spindle function) among healthy controls; however, it is not clear how older adults with deficits in muscle spindle function would react to SVS. In previous work the investigators showed promising findings of standing balance and timed-up-and-go (TUG) improvements using SVS among high fall risk older adults with history of fall 15-18. They will implement SVS in the current project to improve aging-related proprioceptive deficits. The hypothesis is that SVS improves muscle spindle function and balance recovery from tripping in older adults with proprioceptive deficits.
Description
In this study investigators will assess the application of a novel methodology, stochastic vibratory stimulation (SVS), for enhancing proprioceptive performance in high fall risk older adults. It is hypothesized that SVS can alter muscle spindle activation. In high fall risk older adults, this additional activation effect on muscle spindle can improve deficits in proprioception. Two groups of low and high fall risk older adults, aged 65 and older, will be recruited. Both groups will go through several testing, including fall risk assessment, clinical questionnaires, proprioceptive measurement,…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * age 65 years or older * the ability to understand study instructions. Exclusion Criteria: * disorders associated with severe motor and balance deficits, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, severe arthritis, lower-extremity amputation, spinal cord pathologies (e.g., spinal stenosis), and diabetes * history of severe vestibular disorder such as bilateral vestibular hypofunction or poorly-compensated unilateral vestibular hypofunction, or Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) \> 40 * central nervous disease * cognitive impairment (MoCA score\<20) * vision problems includi…
Interventions
- DeviceStochastic Vibratory Stimulation (SVS)
Investigators implement stochastic vibratory stimulation (SVS) to alter proprioceptive performance by increasing excitement of type Ia afferents in muscle spindles. Based on previous preliminary data, vibration frequencies around 40Hz may provide adequate noise for enhancing aging-related proprioceptive deficits. To make a subsensory noise investigators set it to 90% of the sensory threshold amplitude, which has been effectively used previously for influencing mechanoreceptor sensation in older adults. Stimulation will be imposed bilaterally on: 1) distal ankle (tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, soleus, gastrocnemius); and 2) proximal hip (quadriceps, gluteus medius, and paraspinals). Investigators use Gaussian noise to reduce the anticipative and preemptive adjustments of muscle spindles to the vibration. For SVS investigators use a magnetic actuator system and a Universal Controller (C-2HDLF Tactor/TDK), to provide programmable frequency ranges.
Location
- University of ArizonaTucson, Arizona