Leg skin stimulation can be a strategy to improve postural control in the elderly

Abstract

Previous studies suggested that skin stimulation by using medical tape glued to the skin over the Achilles tendon can improve postural control in young adults. Such strategy can be valuable if helping to improve postural control in the elderly. Here, we tested the effects of skin stimulation on the postural control of elderly while standing barefoot. Twenty-two voluntary elderly had postural control assessed under different conditions of skin stimulation. Center of pressure was monitored while they stood quietly barefoot on a force plate during standing with and without medical tape glued to the skin over the Achilles tendon. There were effects of skin stimulation for anteroposterior amplitude of center of pressure displacement, mediolateral amplitude of center of pressure displacement, and area of the ellipse for 95% of center of pressure data (P<.05). These results are promising considering that skin stimulation by using medical tape is feasible even for low incoming subjects and possible to self manage for improvements in postural control.

Keywords: Aging; Center of pressure; Falling; Proprioception; Sensorimotor stimulation; Stability.