A Study on the Evaluation Method of Physical Function using Vibration Stimulation on Human Body

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22501
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0403:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Honda Koki 九州大学, 工学研究院, 助教 (70879973)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 振動刺激 / 筋肉 / 反射 / 身体機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we conducted a basic study on a method to quantitatively evaluate physical functions using tonic vibration reflexes generated by mechanical vibration stimulation to human muscles. Specifically, we studied a method for estimating the relationship between the amount of human response generated by mechanical vibration stimulation and the amount of stimulation. We also studied about a method for measuring the sway of the human center of gravity caused by muscle contraction using an inertial sensor. As a result, we found a method for estimating the relationship between changes in the amount of vibration stimulus to muscles and changes in the amount of muscle reflex in healthy subjects, and we proposed a method to estimate the trajectory of the center of foot pressure associated with the center of gravity sway using an inertial sensor.

Free Research Field

医療福祉工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者などの身体機能が衰えた人々において，身体機能の状態を定量的に評価し，衰えを早期に発見することは重要である．機械的振動刺激により生成される筋反射は，ヒトの神経，筋骨格システムを総合的に使用して発生する現象であるため，健常者と身体機能が衰えている高齢者などとの機械的振動刺激に対する応答の違いから，身体機能の低下について定量的に評価することができる可能性がある．今回の研究により，身体機能の健全なヒトにおける筋への振動刺激に対する筋反射量の推定が可能となったことで，今後高齢者などにおける振動刺激に対する筋反射の応答と健常者の応答を比較し，身体機能の衰えを評価することができる可能性が示された．