Retention Effects of Long-Term Balance Training with Vibrotactile Sensory Augmentation in Healthy Older Adults

Abstract

Vibrotactile sensory augmentation (SA) decreases postural sway during real-time use; however, limited studies have investigated the long-term effects of training with SA. This study assessed the retention effects of long-term balance training with and without vibrotactile SA among community-dwelling healthy older adults, and explored brain-related changes due to training with SA. Sixteen participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG) or control group (CG), and trained in their homes for eight weeks using smart-phone balance trainers. The EG received vibrotactile SA. Balance performance was assessed before, and one week, one month, and six months after training. Functional MRI (fMRI) was recorded before and one week after training for four participants who received vestibular stimulation. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of SOT composite and MiniBESTest scores, and increased vestibular reliance. Only the EG maintained a minimal detectable change of 8 points in SOT scores six months post-training and greater improvements than the CG in MiniBESTest scores one month post-training. The fMRI results revealed a shift from activation in the vestibular cortex pre-training to increased activity in the brainstem and cerebellum post-training. These findings showed that additional balance improvements were maintained for up to six months post-training with vibrotactile SA for community-dwelling healthy older adults.

Extended effects of a wearable sensory prosthesis on gait, balance function and falls after 26 weeks of use in persons with peripheral neuropathy and high fall risk—The walk2Wellness trial

“…However, they will regularly experience hundreds of specific balance stimuli/hour that are intimately integrated into their regular standing and walking activities and that are likely to cause related changes in balance behavior. Over time, this feedback may lead to a reweighting of sensory information that is relevant for balance function ( Sienko et al, 2018 ), as has previously been suggested in older adults performing in-home balance training using vibrotactile sensory stimulation related to trunk tilt ( Noohi et al, 2017 , Bao et al, 2018 ) further supported by recently reported changes in brain connectivity ( Bao et al, 2022 ).…”

Extended Effects of a Wearable Sensory Prosthesis on Gait, Balance Function and Falls After 26 Weeks of Use in Persons with Peripheral Neuropathy and High Fall Risk – The walk2Wellness Trial

“…However, they will regularly experience hundreds of specific balance stimuli/hour that are intimately integrated into their regular standing and walking activities and that are likely to cause related changes in balance behavior. Over time, this feedback may lead to a reweighting of sensory information that is relevant for balance function (Sienko, Seidler et al 2018), as has previously been suggested in older adults performing in-home balance training using vibrotactile sensory stimulation related to trunk tilt (Noohi, Kinnaird et al 2017, Bao, Carender et al 2018) further supported by recently reported changes in brain connectivity (Bao, Noohi et al 2022).…”

“…However, they will regularly experience hundreds of specific balance stimuli/hour that are intimately integrated into their regular standing and walking activities and that are likely to cause related changes in balance behavior. Over time, this feedback may lead to a reweighting of sensory information that is relevant for balance function (Sienko, Seidler et al 2018), as has previously been suggested in older adults performing in-home balance training using vibrotactile sensory stimulation related to trunk tilt (Noohi, Kinnaird et al 2017, Bao, Carender et al 2018) further supported by recently reported changes in brain connectivity (Bao, Noohi et al 2022). Interestingly, early observations from a pilot study of five participants in the cohort studied here, who completed 26 weeks of device use, show neuroplastic changes in brain network connectivity related to postural control and balance that were associated with improved changes in FGA scores (Hsu, Iloputaife et al 2021).…”

Examining technology-assisted rehabilitation for older adults’ functional mobility: a network meta-analysis on efficacy and acceptability

“…Among the included studies, exergaming with balance platforms 20 – 41 ( n = 22, total participants: 1084) and motion capture 42 – 58 ( n = 17, total participants: 912) were the most frequently investigated interventions. Seven studies (total participants: 452) examined the use of other serious games 59 – 65 , four studies (total participants: 98) examined interventions with wearables 66 – 69 , and three studies (participants: 619) investigated telerehabilitation 70 – 72 . Two studies could not be classified into either group as it involved an intervention with the Nintendo Switch console 73 , 74 .…”