RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05702801

Vibratory Stimulation to Improve Balance Recovery

Subsensory Stochastic Vibratory Stimulation to Assess and Improve Aging Related Proprioceptive Deficits Associated With Balance Recovery

Sponsor

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Enrollment

60 participants

Start Date

May 1, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Fall Fall Injury

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.

Eligibility

Min Age: 65 Years

Inclusion Criteria2

age 65 years or older
the ability to understand study instructions.

Exclusion Criteria6

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 including cataract, presbyopia, and similar problems that can influence balance
sedating medication or alcohol consumption within 24 hours.

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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.