The Effects of Electrical Stimulation and Perturbation on Anterior-Posterior Postural Sway

Abstract

Record ID: 239

Award(s): Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: Capstone

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: Previous research explores muscle activation during postural control. The ankle strategy is essential for static postural control, and the gastrocnemius is one of the initial muscles recruited. Improvements in postural control have been demonstrated when transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was applied to the gastrocnemius during static stance. This study investigated the influence of TENS applied to the gastrocnemius on postural sway in response to perturbation. Students from the College of Allied Health Sciences with no known conditions impacting balance were recruited. Electrodes were adhered to the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius on both legs. Total center of pressure (COP) displacement values collected from AMTI force plate were measured under four conditions varying TENS stimulation and perturbations.  The t-tests displayed a statistically significant difference (p=0.009 and p=0.003) in postural sway between trials with TENS compared to those without TENS. Application of TENS impacted postural sway. In conditions without a perturbation, postural sway was increased with application of TENS. The increased sway demonstrated in these trials may be due to activation of the gastrocnemius inducing postural sway in the absence of a perturbation.  In conditions with a perturbation, postural sway was decreased with the application of TENS.  Anterior-posterior sway caused by the perturbation is dampened by the electrical stimulation of the gastrocnemius.