Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations
Background: Multi-axis vibrotactile feedback has been shown to significantly reduce the root-mean-square (RMS) sway, elliptical fits to sway trajectory area, and the time spent outside of the no feedback zone in individuals with vestibular deficits during continuous multidirectional support surface...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BioMed Central Ltd.
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/74194 |
| _version_ | 1826216612111319040 |
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| author | Sienko, Kathleen H. Balkwill, M. David Wall, Conrad III |
| author2 | Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology |
| author_facet | Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Sienko, Kathleen H. Balkwill, M. David Wall, Conrad III |
| author_sort | Sienko, Kathleen H. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Background: Multi-axis vibrotactile feedback has been shown to significantly reduce the root-mean-square (RMS) sway, elliptical fits to sway trajectory area, and the time spent outside of the no feedback zone in individuals with vestibular deficits during continuous multidirectional support surface perturbations. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of multidirectional vibrotactile biofeedback on postural stability during discrete multidirectional support surface perturbations. Methods The vibrotactile biofeedback device mapped tilt estimates onto the torso using a 3-row by 16-column tactor array. The number of columns displayed was varied to determine the effect of spatial resolution upon subject response. Torso kinematics and center of pressure data were measured in six subjects with vestibular deficits. Transient and steady state postural responses with and without feedback were characterized in response to eight perturbation directions. Four feedback conditions in addition to the tactors off (no feedback) configuration were evaluated. Postural response data captured by both a force plate and an inertial measurement unit worn on the torso were partitioned into three distinct phases: ballistic, recovery, and steady state. Results: The results suggest that feedback has minimal effects during the ballistic phase (body's outbound trajectory in response to the perturbation), and the greatest effects during the recovery (return toward baseline) and steady state (post-recovery) phases. Specifically, feedback significantly decreases the time required for the body tilt to return to baseline values and significantly increases the velocity of the body's return to baseline values. Furthermore, feedback significantly decreases root mean square roll and pitch sway and significantly increases the amount of time spent in the no feedback zone. All four feedback conditions produced comparable performance improvements. Incidences of delayed and uncontrolled responses were significantly reduced with feedback while erroneous (sham) feedback resulted in poorer performance when compared with the no feedback condition. Conclusions: The results show that among the displays evaluated in this study, no one tactor column configuration was optimal for standing tasks involving discrete surface perturbations. Feedback produced larger effects on body tilt versus center of pressure parameters. Furthermore, the subjects' performance worsened when erroneous feedback was provided, suggesting that vibrotactile stimulation applied to the torso is actively processed and acted upon rather than being responsible for simply triggering a stiffening response. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:49:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/74194 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:49:55Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | BioMed Central Ltd. |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/741942024-06-28T13:09:58Z Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations Sienko, Kathleen H. Balkwill, M. David Wall, Conrad III Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Sienko, Kathleen H. Background: Multi-axis vibrotactile feedback has been shown to significantly reduce the root-mean-square (RMS) sway, elliptical fits to sway trajectory area, and the time spent outside of the no feedback zone in individuals with vestibular deficits during continuous multidirectional support surface perturbations. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of multidirectional vibrotactile biofeedback on postural stability during discrete multidirectional support surface perturbations. Methods The vibrotactile biofeedback device mapped tilt estimates onto the torso using a 3-row by 16-column tactor array. The number of columns displayed was varied to determine the effect of spatial resolution upon subject response. Torso kinematics and center of pressure data were measured in six subjects with vestibular deficits. Transient and steady state postural responses with and without feedback were characterized in response to eight perturbation directions. Four feedback conditions in addition to the tactors off (no feedback) configuration were evaluated. Postural response data captured by both a force plate and an inertial measurement unit worn on the torso were partitioned into three distinct phases: ballistic, recovery, and steady state. Results: The results suggest that feedback has minimal effects during the ballistic phase (body's outbound trajectory in response to the perturbation), and the greatest effects during the recovery (return toward baseline) and steady state (post-recovery) phases. Specifically, feedback significantly decreases the time required for the body tilt to return to baseline values and significantly increases the velocity of the body's return to baseline values. Furthermore, feedback significantly decreases root mean square roll and pitch sway and significantly increases the amount of time spent in the no feedback zone. All four feedback conditions produced comparable performance improvements. Incidences of delayed and uncontrolled responses were significantly reduced with feedback while erroneous (sham) feedback resulted in poorer performance when compared with the no feedback condition. Conclusions: The results show that among the displays evaluated in this study, no one tactor column configuration was optimal for standing tasks involving discrete surface perturbations. Feedback produced larger effects on body tilt versus center of pressure parameters. Furthermore, the subjects' performance worsened when erroneous feedback was provided, suggesting that vibrotactile stimulation applied to the torso is actively processed and acted upon rather than being responsible for simply triggering a stiffening response. National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH NIDCD R01 DC6201) National Science Foundation (U.S.) (CAREER program RAPD-0846471) 2012-10-22T20:04:22Z 2012-10-22T20:04:22Z 2012-08 2011-11 2012-10-19T15:08:30Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 1743-0003 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/74194 Sienko, Kathleen H, M Balkwill, and Conrad Wall. “Biofeedback Improves Postural Control Recovery from Multi-axis Discrete Perturbations.” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 9.1 (2012): 53. Web. en http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-9-53 Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation Creative Commons Attribution http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 Kathleen H Sienko et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. application/pdf BioMed Central Ltd. BioMed Central Ltd |
| spellingShingle | Sienko, Kathleen H. Balkwill, M. David Wall, Conrad III Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations |
| title | Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations |
| title_full | Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations |
| title_fullStr | Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations |
| title_short | Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations |
| title_sort | biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi axis discrete perturbations |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/74194 |
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