Wearable Vibration Device for Supporting Postural Stability based on Proprioceptive Stimulation.

In this study, we present a wearable device for local vibration stimulation aimed to support postural stability in balance-compromised persons. Experiments were conducted with 15 young and 9 middle-aged adults without lower limb disabilities in a standing posture with vibration stimulation. The results showed a decrease in the mean velocity of the center-of-pressure sway in the standing posture during vibration presentation. In middle-aged and older adults, the rate of increase in the postural stability index was higher than that in the absence of vibration when the standing balance test was repeated while vibration was presented. These results suggest that the vibration device used as the proprioceptive stimulation may support the user's postural stability.