Postural responses to various sites of the forefoot sole during quiet standing

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25750244
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences
• Principal Investigator: NAKA Masami 森ノ宮医療大学, 保健医療学部, 助教 (90636383)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 立位姿勢制御 / 足底感覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We applied vibration (0.5-mm amplitude, 60 Hz) to the forefoot soles and evaluated postural responses in healthy adults. Two vibrators (12-mm diameter) were bilaterally attached to the metatarsal head areas at (1) the point of maximum pressure during quiet standing, (2) the anterior area, and (3) the posterior area, which were determined based on the foot pressure distribution and the bearing area of each subject. The vibration to the point of maximum pressure induced backward-lean response (compensatory response) at a higher rate than the vibrations to the other sites. This would suggest that the maximum pressure area under the metatarsal head plays important role in positional perception in quiet standing.

Free Research Field

理学療法学