Article

We examined the effect of biofeedback of trunk sway on balance control while
walking and performing a simultaneous cognitive or motor task. Thirteen healthy
elderly (mean age (+/-S.E.M.) 70.8+/-2.0 years) and 16 healthy young (mean age
21.5+/-0.7 years) subjects performed three gait tasks while wearing body-worn
gyroscopes, mounted at L1-3, to measure trunk sway.
The gait tasks were walking
normally, walking and counting backwards in 7's, and walking while carrying a
tray with cups of water. Differences in trunk sway were examined when subjects
performed the gait tasks with or without a head mounted actuator system which
provided subjects with vibro-tactile, auditory and visual biofeedback of trunk
sway. In the young, trunk pitch (fore-aft) angles, and trunk roll (sideways) and
pitch angular velocities were significantly reduced using biofeedback across all
three gait tasks. In the elderly, the same angle and angular velocities were also
significantly reduced while walking normally.
During walking while carrying a
tray, only trunk sway velocities were significantly reduced, whereas no
improvements were seen for walking while counting backwards. Counting backwards
ability significantly improved with feedback. Young participants were able to
perform a dual task during gait and employ biofeedback to reduce trunk sway.
Elderly participants were not able to reduce sway using biofeedback during the
cognitive task but were able to reduce sway velocities with biofeedback during the motor task.

Langue : ANGLAIS