Article

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of vibrotactile
feedback of body tilt in improving dynamic gait index (DGI) a fall risk indicator
in community dwelling older adults. Twelve healthy elderly subjects (three males
and nine females, age 79.7+/-5.4 yrs) were tested in an institutional balance
rehabilitation laboratory to investigate changes between the feedback off and on
conditions. Subjects were acutely exposed to a vibrotactile display that
indicated the magnitude and direction of their body tilt from the vertical. DGI
and mediolateral (ML) sway were determined during locomotion with, and without,
vibrotactile tilt feedback (VTTF). All subjects were at risk for falls based on
their initial DGI Score (range: 15-19, mean 17.4+/-1.56), which was taken with
the vibratory stimulus turned off. Subjects learned to use the trunk tilt
information from the vibrotactile feedback vest through 20-30 min of gait and
balance training consisting of activities that challenged their balance. Subjects
were then retested on the DGI. Statistically significant changes were
demonstrated for the DGI total score while using the vibrotactile tilt feedback.
DGI total scores improved from 17.1+/-0.4 to 20.8+/-0.3 (p<0.05).
We conclude
that vibrotactile tilt feedback improves both control of mediolateral sway during gait and dynamic gait index. Both are fall risk indicators for this population.

Langue : ANGLAIS