ABSTRACT
In this feasibility study, we aimed to test the feasibility of a force plate and plantar vibrotactile stimulator as a measurement tool. A total of 24 elderly subjects (mean: 75.8 years), and 22 young adult subjects (24.3 years) participated. The subjects stood barefoot on the stimulator placed on the force plate, and they tried to move their center of pressure (COP) to reach the border of the predetermined target range, and finally maintained within the border. As a result, both groups were able to control their COP position within the target range. The elderly, as compared with the young adults, showed a decreased ability to control the COP as expected. This tool could be very useful in future studies of interventions to improve balance.
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