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KMID : 1012020160050030138
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Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
2016 Volume.5 No. 3 p.138 ~ p.142
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Effect of light touch on body sway during a stable posture with blocked visual information
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Kim Jong-Gun
Kim Jin-Hong
Do Kwang-Sun
Yim Jong-Eun
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Abstract
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Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate how light touch with a finger affects balance ability when a posture is maintained in the condition of visual information blockage and to provide a fundamental material for developing balance ability in the process of rehabilitation treatment.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: The study subjects were 17 healthy men and women in their twenties and thirties who were studying at S University in Seoul. The system was comprised of an equilateral triangular force platform. Subjects were asked to step on the foot position of the force platform (Good Balance, Finland) barefooted for 30 seconds, with eyes closed, hands hanging down loosely, and feet comfortably apart. It was connected to a laptop by using Bluetooth technology. An experiment was conducted in the following three circumstances: 1) no-touch trial, 2) light touch to the back (T7 area), and 3) light touch to the middle finger of the left hand. Each subject was given a 10-minute break between consecutive measurements. The experimental circumstances were performed randomly. Anteroposterior sway (APSV), mediolateral sway velocity (MLSV), and velocity moment (VM) were measured.
Results: The APSVs (mm/s) were 9.32±3.37 and 5.45±2.98; the MLSVs (mm/s), 6.39±3.35 and 3.31±2.48; and VM (mm2/s), 17.13±11.75 and 6.76±8.31 in the first and second experimental circumstances, respectively. APSV, MLSV, and VM values were significantly improved with the 1) no-touch trial and 2) light touch to the back trail conditions compared with the 3) light touch to the middle finger of the left hand condition (p<0.05).
Conclusions: This study revealed that the balance ability for maintaining a body posture was influenced more by light touch to the back (T7) than by light touch with the sensitive fingertip and body sway diminished after visual information was blocked.
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KEYWORD
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Feedback, sensory, Touch, Postural balance
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FullTexts / Linksout information
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Listed journal information
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