Postural Reorganization Induced by Torso Cutaneous Covibration

Abstract

Cutaneous information from joints has been attributed proprioceptive properties similar to those of muscle spindles. This study aimed to assess whether vibration-induced changes in torso cutaneous information contribute to whole-body postural reorganization in humans. Ten healthy young adults stood in normal and Romberg stances with six vibrating actuators positioned on the torso in contact with the skin over the left and right external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae muscle locations at the L4/L5 vertebrae level. Vibrations around the torso were randomly applied at two locations simultaneously (covibration) or at all locations simultaneously. Kinematic analysis of the body segments indicated that covibration applied to the skin over the internal oblique muscles induced shifts of both the head and torso in the anterior direction (torso flexion) while the hips shifted in the posterior direction (ankle plantar flexion). Conversely, covibration applied to the skin over the erector spinae muscle locations produced opposite effects. However, covibration applied to the skin over the left internal oblique and left erector spinae, the right internal oblique and right erector spinae, or at all locations simultaneously did not induce any significant postural changes. In addition, the center of pressure position as measured by the force plate was unaffected by all covibration conditions tested. These results were independent of stance and suggest an integrated and coordinated reorganization of posture in response to vibration-induced changes in cutaneous information. In addition, combinations of vibrotactile stimuli over multiple locations exhibit directional summation properties in contrast to the individual responses we observed in our previous work.

The Effect of Vibrotactile Cuing on Recovery Strategies From a Treadmill-Induced Trip

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Improving postural control by applying mechanical noise to ankle muscle tendons

“…These sensory cues contribute to head/body orientation and stabilization in space. Under quiet standing conditions and in healthy subjects, the most sensitive information regarding body sway is provided by proprioceptive musculoarticular cues; cutaneous cues from the feet, legs, and torso; and visual cues Fitzpatrick and McCloskey 1994;Kavounoudias et al 1998;Goble et al 2009;Goble 2010;Lee et al 2013). In healthy subjects, vestibular signals play a minor role.…”

An Experimental Setup to Test Dual-Joystick Directional Responses to Vibrotactile Stimuli

“…• toward the stimulation [26] [27] [28]. Moreover, in [29], a preferred direction of intuitive response to vibrations on different body location has not been found.…”