Abstract
Somatosensory and muscle functions decline with age. Such changes have been related with diminished balance performance. Recent work indicates mechanical stimulation of ther soles might attenuate muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to examine what daily mechanical foot stimulation to the plantar surfaces could ameliorate age-related impairments in standing balance control. The participants stimulated the plantar surfaces of their feet by rolling golf ball under their barefeet everyday. The subjects were 31 elderly female participants. Seventeen participants stimulated their feet and 14 participants did not. The parameters used for standing balance control in this study were the duration times of the Mann test and one-leg standing test. The parameters were measured monthly after the participants started the stimulation. The average of those parameters were compared between the participants with, and without stimulation. The parameters of the participants using stimulation were significantly longer than before using stimulation. On the other hand, we could not find any significant differences in the participants without stimulation. Daily stimulation to the plantar surfaces of the feet by rolling a golf ball might be efficacious against age-related impairments in standing balance control.
