Changes in tactile perception, peripheral circulation and blood biomarkers induced by controlled vibration exposure in elderly Japanese

2016 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09132
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Hossain Mahbub 山口大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (80535336)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 廣滋 恵一 九州栄養福祉大学, リハビリテーション学部理学療法学科, 准教授 (20713225) ; 長谷 亮佑 山口大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (30711262)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-10-21 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: Whole-body vibration / Skin blood flow / Vibrotactile perception / Blood biomarkers / Dynamic balanc

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In this study, a two-period, two-condition crossover design is going to be adopted where all subjects will experience both intervention and control sessions. An 8-week washout period will be set in between the periods to avoid any long-term impacts of whole-body vibration (WBV). Subjects will be assigned to two groups of group A and group B, and the total number of subjects in each group will be 32 (16 males and 16 females).
During the first period and second periods, the subjects in group A will be exposed to WBV (WBV+) for 8 weeks and the subjects in group B will not be exposed to it (WBV-), and vice versa, respectively.
Now the selection process is going on for subjects suitable for this study.
We have arranged the experiment room with controlled ambient temperature for conduction of various tests. The set-up of various equipment including laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG-ANW, Japan), laser Doppler blood flowmeter (ALF21, Advance, Japan), digital thermistor (SZL-64, Technol seven, Japan), scanner unit (High accurate data logger K730, Technol seven, Japan), vibrotactile perception meter (HVLab, University of Southampton, UK) has been completed. Galileo Fit device (Novotec, Germany) with side alternating vibration platform has also been set-up.
We have submitted our research protocol for approval from the institutional review board of Yamaguchi University School of Medicine.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

The research grant was approved late by half year. Since then, we have been able to arrange the experiment room and set-up the necessary equipment relevant to this experiment. The experiment will start after receiving the approval from the institutional review board for which the application has already been submitted.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

After receiving the approval for the research protocol from the institutional review board of Yamaguchi University, we will collect data from elderly subjects. The scientific outcomes will be reported through oral and poster presentations in various relevant conferences, seminars, and publications in conference proceedings, journals etc. Also, the findings will be disseminated through the relevant websites of the host organization.

Causes of Carryover

The current research grant has been approved late by half year. After that the necessary arrangements of the experiment room and various relevant equipment have been made. In the meantime, we have applied for the approval of the research protocol from the institutional review board. We will start the experiment after receiving the approval.

Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget

1) Honorarium for the participants: 1,100,000 yen (64 subjects× 17 times × @ 1000 yen). 2) Blood biochemical data analysis: 450,000 yen. 3) Cost for various consumables: 50,000 yen. 4) Honorarium for assistant: 150,000 yen (1 person × 2 months). 5) Participation in domestic conferences: 100,000 yen (1 person × 4 days). 6) Participation in foreign conferences: 400,000 yen (2 people × 4 days).