Galica Andrew M, Kang Hyun Gu, Priplata Attila A, D'Andrea Susan E, Starobinets Olga V, Sorond Farzaneh A, Cupples L Adrienne, Lipsitz Lewis A
Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA 02131, USA.
Gait Posture. 2009 Oct;30(3):383-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.07.005. Epub 2009 Jul 25.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of subsensory vibratory noise applied to the soles of the feet on gait variability in a population of elderly recurrent fallers compared to non-fallers and young controls. Eighteen elderly recurrent fallers and 18 elderly non-fallers were recruited from the MOBILIZE Boston Study (MBS), a population-based cohort study investigating novel risk factors for falls. Twelve young participants were included as controls. Participants performed three 6-min walking trials while wearing a pair of insoles containing vibrating actuators. During each trial, the noise stimulus was applied for 3 of the 6min, and differences in stride, stance, and swing time variability were analyzed between noise and no-noise conditions. The use of vibrating insoles significantly reduced stride, stance, and swing time variability measures for elderly recurrent fallers. Elderly non-fallers also demonstrated significant reductions in stride and stance time variability. Although young participants showed decreases in all variability measures, the results did not achieve statistical significance. Gait variability reductions with noise were similar between the elderly recurrent fallers and elderly non-fallers. This study supports the hypothesis that subsensory vibratory noise applied to the soles of the feet can reduce gait variability in elderly participants. Future studies are needed to determine if this intervention reduces falls risk.
本研究的目的是调查与非跌倒者和年轻对照组相比，施加于足底的亚感觉振动噪声对老年反复跌倒人群步态变异性的影响。从波士顿行动研究（MBS）中招募了18名老年反复跌倒者和18名老年非跌倒者，该研究是一项基于人群的队列研究，旨在调查跌倒的新风险因素。纳入12名年轻参与者作为对照组。参与者穿着一双装有振动驱动器的鞋垫进行三次6分钟的步行试验。在每次试验中，在6分钟中的3分钟施加噪声刺激，并分析噪声和无噪声条件下步幅、站立和摆动时间变异性的差异。使用振动鞋垫显著降低了老年反复跌倒者的步幅、站立和摆动时间变异性指标。老年非跌倒者在步幅和站立时间变异性方面也有显著降低。虽然年轻参与者在所有变异性指标上都有所下降，但结果未达到统计学显著性。老年反复跌倒者和老年非跌倒者在噪声作用下步态变异性的降低相似。本研究支持以下假设：施加于足底的亚感觉振动噪声可降低老年参与者的步态变异性。未来需要开展研究以确定这种干预措施是否能降低跌倒风险。
