Enhancing balance and gait in ageing populations through rapid and localized tactile feedback

有重要的证据表明，在脚底(Hijmann et al.，2008；Priplataet al.，2006)或膝盖(Gravelle et al.，2002)施加振动可以改善周围神经疾病参与者的平衡。这种效果已经被应用于振动鞋垫的形式，其中包含嵌入式马达，提供亚阈值水平的噪声信号(Pripla et al.，2003)。这证明了一种潜在的解决方案，以解决由于周围神经病造成的平衡能力下降。这种形式的辅助技术特别有用，因为它是非侵入性的，不需要用户输入，这意味着它不会增加患者的认知负荷。这个项目将建立在这个想法的基础上，来描述通过对脚底施加精确定时和局部振动而产生的感觉运动反射。一旦更好地理解了这些反射，就可以建立计算模型来预测在一系列任务和条件下，反射将如何影响姿势和步态。这个项目有三个主要目标。测量自然和变化条件下的触觉感觉运动反射。建立一个将触觉反馈与脚踝肌肉激活联系起来的计算模型。使用模型预测来设计和创建能够提供定向反馈的鞋垫，以改善静态和行走时的姿势稳定性。总而言之，该项目将结合计算建模和现有的智能鞋垫技术来识别和测试改善和纠正周围神经病患者的平衡和步态的潜在反馈策略

There is significant evidence that applying vibrations to the sole of the foot (Hijmans et al., 2008; Priplataet al., 2006) or the knee (Gravelle et al., 2002) improves balance in participants with peripheral neuropathy.This effect has been utilised in the form of vibrating insoles which contain embedded motors that provide asub-threshold level of noise signals (Priplata et al., 2003). This demonstrates a potential solution to degradations in balance ability due to peripheral neuropathy. This form of assistive technology is particularly useful asit is non-invasive and does not require input from the user, meaning it will not increase cognitive load on patients.This project will build on this idea to characterise the sensorimotor reflexes that are produced by preciselytimed and localised vibrations applied to the foot sole. Once these reflexes are better understood, computational models can be created to make predictions of how reflexes will impact posture and gait under a range oftasks and conditions. These predictions can then be used to implement control strategies embedded in smartinsoles which aim to improve balance.There are three main aims to this project.Measure tactile sensorimotor reflexes under naturalistic and varied conditions.Build a computational model that relates tactile feedback to muscle activations at the ankle.Use the model predictions to design and create an insole capable of providing targeted feedback thatimproves postural stability in both static positions and during walking.Overall, this project will combine computational modelling with existing smart insole technology to identifyand test potential feedback strategies that improve and correct balance and gait in people with peripheralneuropathy