Gait-Like Plantar Stimulation: Walking and Brain Imaging
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Masters)
Major/Field of Study
Biomechanics
Advisor Information
Mukul Mukherjee
Location
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 704 - G (Masters)
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
24-3-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
24-3-2023 11:45 AM
Abstract
The feet are a vital source of information for balance and locomotion control. Thus, being able to supplement this sensory information from the feet could aid in balance control for individuals lacking sensitivity in the feet, such as stroke survivors. A stroke can lead to massive neural networking changes within the brain. Thus, understanding how information from the feet is used within the brain, could aid future stroke rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different vibro-tactile stimulation patterns on balance control during walking tasks in healthy individuals. We hypothesize that vibro-tactile stimulation in an abnormal pattern will result in gait and balance deficits, when compared to stimulation that follows a natural walking pattern. Additionally, that walking on an inclined surface would exaggerate the effects of these stimulation patterns. Finally, we hypothesized that a stroke would decrease the brain responses to natural gait-like stimulation pattern on the feet. In this on-going study we tested three stimulation patterns at three different inclines (0, 5, and 10-degrees) of treadmill walking. These patterns included no stimulation (NS), a gait-like stimulation (GS), and a reverse gait-like stimulation (RGS). Minimal effects were observed from the different stimulation pattern in typical gait measures, such as stride length, stride time, and stride width (
Scheduling
10:45 a.m.-Noon
Gait-Like Plantar Stimulation: Walking and Brain Imaging
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 704 - G (Masters)
The feet are a vital source of information for balance and locomotion control. Thus, being able to supplement this sensory information from the feet could aid in balance control for individuals lacking sensitivity in the feet, such as stroke survivors. A stroke can lead to massive neural networking changes within the brain. Thus, understanding how information from the feet is used within the brain, could aid future stroke rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different vibro-tactile stimulation patterns on balance control during walking tasks in healthy individuals. We hypothesize that vibro-tactile stimulation in an abnormal pattern will result in gait and balance deficits, when compared to stimulation that follows a natural walking pattern. Additionally, that walking on an inclined surface would exaggerate the effects of these stimulation patterns. Finally, we hypothesized that a stroke would decrease the brain responses to natural gait-like stimulation pattern on the feet. In this on-going study we tested three stimulation patterns at three different inclines (0, 5, and 10-degrees) of treadmill walking. These patterns included no stimulation (NS), a gait-like stimulation (GS), and a reverse gait-like stimulation (RGS). Minimal effects were observed from the different stimulation pattern in typical gait measures, such as stride length, stride time, and stride width (