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

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09132
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: HOSSAIN Mahbub 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 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, 准教授 (20713225) ; 長谷 亮佑 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 講師 (30711262)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-10-21 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: Whole-body vibration / Vibrotactile perception / Body balance / Skin blood flow / Skin temperature / Heart rate variability / Elderly

Outline of Final Research Achievements

According to the findings of our systematic review, we selected relatively lower magnitudes of acute whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure for investigation in the experimental study. As revealed in the experimental study, compared to the corresponding control values, exposure to WBV caused a significant increase in vibrotactile perception thresholds at the hallux and heel, especially at exposure frequencies of 15 Hz and 20 Hz. However, such increases in vibrotactile perception did not cause any significant change in body balance and functional mobility of elderly subjects participating in this study. On the other hand, exposure to WBV caused a significant increase in peripheral skin blood flow under all vibration exposure conditions (15Hz, 20 Hz, and 25 Hz); the increase was greater under the 25 Hz exposure condition. However, such exposure to WBV did not cause any significant change in the components of heart rate variability and did not decrease peripheral skin temperature.

Free Research Field

衛生学・公衆衛生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

The current findings should be useful in: (1) inducing improvements in peripheral circulation among the elderly; (2) consideration of vibration parameters for improvements in body balance; 3) establishing the strategies for safe and effective use of whole-body vibration for therapeutic purposes.