Short-duration galvanic vestibular stimulation evokes prolonged balance responses

2008 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 1210-1217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Martin Lee Son ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Blouin ◽  
John Timothy Inglis
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Quiet Standing ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Straight Ahead ◽  
Muscle Responses

The application of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) evokes distinct responses in lower limb muscles involved in the control of balance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the balance and lower limb muscle responses to short-duration GVS and to determine whether these responses are modulated by small changes in center of gravity (CoG) and baseline muscle activity occurring during quiet standing. Twelve subjects stood quietly on a force plate with their feet together and were instructed to look straight ahead. One thousand twenty-four GVS stimuli (4 mA, 20-ms pulses) were delivered bilaterally to the mastoid processes in a bipolar, binaural configuration. Bilateral surface electromyography (EMG) from soleus (Sol) and tibialis anterior (TA) and ground reaction forces were recorded. EMG and force responses were trigger averaged at the onset of the GVS pulse. Short-duration GVS applied during quiet standing with the head facing forward evoked characteristic balance responses and biphasic modulation of all muscles with the same polarity for ipsilateral Sol and TA. The amplitude of the GVS-evoked muscle responses was modulated by both the estimated position of the subject's CoG and the background activation of the recorded muscle. Muscle-dependent modulations of the GVS-evoked muscle responses were observed: the Sol responses decreased, while the TA responses increased when the CoG position shifted toward the heels. The well-defined balance responses evoked by short-duration GVS are important to acknowledge when studying the vestibulo-motor responses in healthy subjects and patient populations.

Vestibulospinal influences on lower limb motoneurons

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 675-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M Kennedy ◽  
Andrew G Cresswell ◽  
Romeo Chua ◽  
J Timothy Inglis
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Motor Units ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
H Reflex ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles

Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is a research tool used to activate the vestibular system in human subjects. When a low-intensity stimulus (1–4 mA) is delivered percutaneously to the vestibular nerve, a transient electromyographic response is observed a short time later in lower limb muscles. Typically, galvanically evoked responses are present when the test muscle is actively engaged in controlling standing balance. However, there is evidence to suggest that GVS may be able to modulate the activity of lower limb muscles when subjects are not in a free-standing situation. The purpose of this review is to examine 2 studies from our laboratory that examined the effects of GVS on the lower limb motoneuron pool. For instance, a monopolar monaural galvanic stimulus modified the amplitude of the ipsilateral soleus H-reflex. Furthermore, bipolar binaural GVS significantly altered the onset of activation and the initial firing frequency of gastrocnemius motor units. The following paper examines the effects of GVS on muscles that are not being used to maintain balance. We propose that GVS is modulating motor output by influencing the activity of presynaptic inhibitory mechanisms that act on the motoneuron pool.Key words: galvanic vestibular stimulation, h-reflex, motor unit, vestibulospinal, human.

scholarly journals Effect of Eye-Object Distance on Body Sway during Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Aoki ◽  
Yoshitaka Otani ◽  
Shinichiro Morishita
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Distance Effect ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Body Sway ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Visual Condition ◽  
Object Distance

Gazing at objects at a near distance (small eye-object distance) can reduce body sway. However, whether body sway is regulated by movement in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction remains unclear. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) can induce body tilting in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction. This study examined the directionality of the eye-object distance effect, using body-tilting GVS manipulations. Ten healthy subjects (aged 21.1 ± 0.3 years) stood on a force plate covered with a piece of foamed rubber and either closed their eyes or gazed at a marker located 0.5 m, 1.0 m, or 1.5 m in front of them. The GVS polarities were set to evoke rightward, forward, and backward body tilts. To compare the effects of eye-object distance in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions, the root mean square (RMS) of the center of pressure (COP) without GVS was subtracted from the COP RMS during GVS. For swaying in the mediolateral direction, significant visual condition-related differences were found during rightward and forward GVS (p < 0.05). Thus, reductions in mediolateral body sway are more evident for smaller eye-object distances during rightward GVS. It would be appropriate to use body-tilting GVS to detect the directionality of the eye-object distance effect.

scholarly journals Human kinematic, kinetic and EMG data during different walking and stair ascending and descending tasks

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiziana Lencioni ◽  
Ilaria Carpinella ◽  
Marco Rabuffetti ◽  
Alberto Marzegan ◽  
Maurizio Ferrarin
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Human Locomotion ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Bipedal Robots ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Reaction Forces

AbstractThis paper reports the kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic (EMG) dataset of human locomotion during level walking at different velocities, toe- and heel-walking, stairs ascending and descending. A sample of 50 healthy subjects, with an age between 6 and 72 years, is included. For each task, both raw data and computed variables are reported including: the 3D coordinates of external markers, the joint angles of lower limb in the sagittal, transversal and horizontal anatomical planes, the ground reaction forces and torques, the center of pressure, the lower limb joint mechanical moments and power, the displacement of the whole body center of mass, and the surface EMG signals of the main lower limb muscles. The data reported in the present study, acquired from subjects with different ages, represents a valuable dataset useful for future studies on locomotor function in humans, particularly as normative reference to analyze pathological gait, to test the performance of simulation models of bipedal locomotion, and to develop control algorithms for bipedal robots or active lower limb exoskeletons for rehabilitation.

The Effects of Uni- and Bilateral Fatigue on Postural and Power Tasks

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo H. Marchetti ◽  
Maria I.V. Orselli ◽  
Marcos Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Quiet Standing ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
The Mean

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of unilateral and bilateral fatigue on both postural and power bipedal tasks. Ten healthy subjects performed two tasks: bipedal quiet standing and a maximal bipedal counter-movement jumping before and after unilateral (with either the dominant or nondominant lower limb) and bilateral (with both lower limbs) fatigue. We employed two force plates (one under each lower limb) to measure the ground reaction forces and center of pressure produced by subjects during the tasks. To quantify the postural sway during quiet standing, we calculated the resultant center of pressure (COP) speed and COP area of sway, as well as the mean weight distribution between lower limbs. To quantify the performance during the countermovement jumping, we calculated the jump height and the peak force of each lower limb. We observed that both unilateral and bilateral fatigue affected the performance of maximal voluntary jumping and standing tasks and that the effects of unilateral and bilateral fatigue were stronger in the dominant limb than in the nondominant limb during bipedal tasks. We conclude that unilateral neuromuscular fatigue affects both postural and power tasks negatively.

scholarly journals The acute effect of using of texture foot orthoses on ground reaction forces in older adults during walking

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 756-763
Author(s):  
Aydin Valizadeh orang ◽  
Arefeh Mokhtari Malekabadi ◽  
AmirAli Jafarnezhadgero
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Acute Effect ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Ground Reaction Forces ◽  
Median Frequency ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Reaction Forces

Background:Walking is one the common daily activities. With the beginning of middle age, weakness in the lower limb muscles can reduce the ability to walk. The use of foot orthoses reduce the load on the limbs and supports the joints during walking. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the acute effect of foot orthoses on the frequency spectrum of ground reaction forces during walking in the older adults. Methods: In this semi-experimental and laboratory study, 21 elderly (15 females and 6 males) with a mean height of 164.19±4.26 centimeters and weight of 80.04±3.50 kg, and age of 66.00±3.50 years were volunteered to participate in the study. The walking trials were done during three conditions including walking without foot orthoses, walking with small and large textured orthoses. The Bertec force plate (made in USA) with dimensions of 40 * 60 cm was used to record ground reaction forces. Results: The results of this study did not show any significant differences between walking without foot orthoses, walking with small and large textured foot orthoses for frequency of 99.5%, median frequency, frequency band and number of essential harmonics (P>0.05). However, the comfort level during wearing of large texture insole condition significantly increased compared to other conditions (P<0.05). Conclusion: The textured foot orthoses do not affect the frequency spectrum of ground reaction forces; however, it improves the comfort of the individual while walking.

scholarly journals Lower limb kinematic, kinetic, and EMG data from young healthy humans during walking at controlled speeds

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Moreira ◽  
Joana Figueiredo ◽  
Pedro Fonseca ◽  
João P. Vilas-Boas ◽  
Cristina P. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Human Locomotion ◽  
Reference Trajectory ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Complete Dataset ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Gastrocnemius Lateralis

AbstractUnderstanding the lower limb kinematic, kinetic, and electromyography (EMG) data interrelation in controlled speeds is challenging for fully assessing human locomotion conditions. This paper provides a complete dataset with the above-mentioned raw and processed data simultaneously recorded for sixteen healthy participants walking on a 10 meter-flat surface at seven controlled speeds (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 km/h). The raw data include 3D joint trajectories of 24 retro-reflective markers, ground reaction forces (GRF), force plate moments, center of pressures, and EMG signals from Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius Lateralis, Biceps Femoris, and Vastus Lateralis. The processed data present gait cycle-normalized data including filtered EMG signals and their envelope, 3D GRF, joint angles, and torques. This study details the experimental setup and presents a brief validation of the data quality. The presented dataset may contribute to (i) validate and enhance human biomechanical gait models, and (ii) serve as a reference trajectory for personalized control of robotic assistive devices, aiming an adequate assistance level adjusted to the gait speed and user’s anthropometry.

scholarly journals Ancestral persistence of vestibulospinal reflexes in axial muscles in humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (5) ◽  
pp. 2010-2023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Guillaud ◽  
Céline Faure ◽  
Emilie Doat ◽  
Laurent J. Bouyer ◽  
Dominique Guehl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Muscle Control ◽  
Axial Muscles ◽  
Vestibulospinal Reflexes ◽  
Leg Muscle ◽  
Muscle Responses

This study addresses the extent of conservation of trunk muscle control in humans. Results show that galvanic vestibular stimulation-evoked vestibular responses in trunk muscles remain strong in conditions where leg muscle responses are downmodulated (walking, standing, microgravity). This suggests a phylogenetically conserved blueprint of sensorimotor organization, with strongly hardwired vestibulospinal inputs to axial motoneurons and a higher degree of flexibility in the later emerging limb control system.

scholarly journals The role of the contralateral limb in below-knee amputee gait

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. B. Hurley ◽  
R. McKenney ◽  
M. Robinson ◽  
M. Zadravec ◽  
M. R. Pierrynowski
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Contralateral Limb ◽  
Joint Reaction Forces ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Joint Reaction ◽  
Amputee Gait

Very little quantitative biomechanical research has been carried out evaluating issues relevant to prosthetic management. The literature available suggests that amputees may demonstrate an asymmetrical gait pattern. Furthermore, studies suggest that the forces occurring during amputee gait may be unequally distributed between the contralateral and prosthetic lower limbs/This study investigates the role of the contralateral limb in amputee gait by determining lower limb joint reaction forces and symmetry of motion in an amputee and non-amputee population. Seven adult below-knee amputees and four non-amputees participated in the study. Testing involved collection of kinematic coordinate data employing a WATSMART video system and ground reaction force data using a Kistler force plate. The degree of lower limb symmetry was determined using bilateral angle-angle diagrams and a chain encoding technique. Ankle, knee and hip joint reaction forces were estimated in order to evaluate the forces acting across the joints of the amputee's contralateral limb. The amputees demonstrated a lesser degree of lower limb symmetry than the non-amputees. This asymmetrical movement was attributed to the inherent variability of the actions of the prosthetic lower limb. The forces acting across the joints of the contralateral limb were not significantly higher than that of the non-amputee. This suggests that, providing the adult amputee has a good prosthetic fit, there will not be increased forces across the joints of the contralateral limb and consequently no predisposition for the long-term wearer to develop premature degenerative arthritis.

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