Is Vibration the Key to Balance?

Years ago, in Lancet (2003; 362: 1123–24) I remember reading about a study that was done where the researched put vibrators in peoples shoes and the participants improved their balance.

This study revealed that there was a reduction in seven of the eight sway parameters in young participants and all of the sway variables in elderly participants. Postural sway, has been determined to be the primary reason for falls in the elderly.

The mechanism as to why vibration may help with balance in the elderly is as follows:

• Vibration has documented circulatory effects, whereas applying a vibrating stimulus to a muscle belly has been shown to facilitate motor responses, even under pathological circumstances. This reflex muscle contraction is known as the tonic vibration reflex. 
• There are several ways vibration may potentiate muscular contraction. Together with enhancing the stretch reflex, vibration also stimulates somatosensory areas of the cortex, which can facilitate subsequent voluntary movement. 
• Increased muscle temperature, due to better perfusion and dampening of mechanical vibration, also may have a positive effect on force generation 

In my Balance Enhancement and Fall Prevention course I mention this research and suggest that appropriate patients purchase a vibrating pad, like the ones used on a car seat and rest their feet on the pad when they are sitting and performing exercises in standing.

There seems to be a resurgence in this idea as I was recently sent this link about a company producing vibrating shoes.