Name: a vibrotactile feedback device for seated balance assessment and training
Uploaded: 2019-01-20T13:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training at JoVE.com

The authors acknowledge the design efforts of the undergraduate students Animesh Singh Kumawat, Kshitij Agarwal, Quinn Boser, Benjamin Cheung, Caroline Collins, Sarah Lojczyc, Derek Schlenker, Katherine Schoepp, and Arthur Zielinski.&#160;This study was partially funded through a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2014-04666).

All methods described here have been approved by the Health Research Ethics Board of the University of Alberta.
1. Construction and Assembly of Structural Components
<ol>
	<li>Construct an attachment interface for interchangeable hemispherical bases: weld a base nut to a steel weld plate.&#160;</li>
	<li>Use a computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling machine to construct a cylindrical chassis, lid, and base from polyethylene as shown in Figure 1. Bolt the bas...

<ol>
	<li>Behm, D. G., Muehlbauer, T., Kibele, A., Granacher, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+Strength+Training+Using+Unstable+Surfaces+on+Strength,+Power+and+Balance+Performance+Across+the+Lifespan:+A+Systematic+Review+and+Meta-analysis.">Effects of Strength Training Using Unstable Surfaces on Strength, Power and Balance Performance Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.</a> Sports Medicine. 45, 1645-1669 (2015).</li><li>Larivi&#232;re, C., Mecheri, H., Shahvarpour, A., Gagnon, D., Shirazi-Adl, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Criterion+validity+and+between-day+reliability+of+an+inertial-sensor-based+trunk+postural+stability+test+during+unstable+sitting.">Criterion validity and between-day reliability of an inertial-sensor-based trunk postural stability test during unstable sitting.</a> Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 23, 899-907 (2013).</li><li>Paillard, T., No&#233;, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Techniques+and+Methods+for+Testing+the+Postural+Function+in+Healthy+and+Pathological+Subjects.">Techniques and Methods for Testing the Postural Function in Healthy and Pathological Subjects.</a> BioMed Research International. 2015, (2015).</li><li>Williams, J., Bentman, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+investigation+into+the+reliability+and+variability+of+wobble+board+performance+in+a+healthy+population+using+the+SMARTwobble+instrumented+wobble+board.">An investigation into the reliability and variability of wobble board performance in a healthy population using the SMARTwobble instrumented wobble board.</a> Physical Therapy in Sport. 25, 108 (2017).</li><li>Wall, C., Kentala, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+displacement,+velocity,+and+combined+vibrotactile+tilt+feedback+on+postural+control+of+vestibulopathic+subjects.">Effect of displacement, velocity, and combined vibrotactile tilt feedback on postural control of vestibulopathic subjects.</a> Journal of Vestibular Research. 20, 61-69 (2010).</li><li>Alahakone, A. U., Arosha Senanayake, ., N, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vibrotactile+feedback+systems:+Current+trends+in+rehabilitation,+sports+and+information+display.">Vibrotactile feedback systems: Current trends in rehabilitation, sports and information display.</a> IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics. , 1148-1153 (2009).</li><li>Shull, P. B., Damian, D. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Haptic+wearables+as+sensory+replacement,+sensory+augmentation+and+trainer+-+a+review.">Haptic wearables as sensory replacement, sensory augmentation and trainer - a review.</a> Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 12, 12-59 (2015).</li><li>Prieto, T. E., Myklebust, J. B., Hoffmann, R. G., Lovett, E. G., Myklebust, B. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measures+of+postural+steadiness:+Differences+between+healthy+young+and+elderly+adults.">Measures of postural steadiness: Differences between healthy young and elderly adults.</a> IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. 43, 956-966 (1996).</li><li>Ribot-Ciscar, E., Vedel, J. P., Roll, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vibration+sensitivity+of+slowly+and+rapidly+adapting+cutaneous+mechanoreceptors+in+the+human+foot+and+leg.">Vibration sensitivity of slowly and rapidly adapting cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the human foot and leg.</a> Neuroscience Letters. , 130-135 (1989).</li><li>Churchill, E., McConville, J. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Sampling and Data Gathering Strategies for Future USAF Anthropometry. , (1976).</li><li>Lee, H., Granata, K. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Process+stationarity+and+reliability+of+trunk+postural+stability.">Process stationarity and reliability of trunk postural stability.</a> Clinical Biomechanics. 23, 735-742 (2008).</li><li>Silfies, S. P., Cholewicki, J., Radebold, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+visual+input+on+postural+control+of+the+lumbar+spine+in+unstable+sitting.">The effects of visual input on postural control of the lumbar spine in unstable sitting.</a> Human Movement Science. 22, 237-252 (2003).</li><li>Loughlin, P., Mahboobin, A., Furman, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Designing+vibrotactile+balance+feedback+for+desired+body+sway+reductions.">Designing vibrotactile balance feedback for desired body sway reductions.</a> Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. , 1310-1313 (2011).</li><li>Goodworth, A. D., Wall, C., Peterka, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+feedback+parameters+on+performance+of+a+vibrotactile+balance+prosthesis.">Influence of feedback parameters on performance of a vibrotactile balance prosthesis.</a> IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 17, 397-408 (2009).</li><li>Marchal-Crespo, L., Reinkensmeyer, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Review+of+control+strategies+for+robotic+movement+training+after+neurologic+injury.">Review of control strategies for robotic movement training after neurologic injury.</a> Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 6, 20-35 (2009).</li><li>Lee, B., Kim, J., Chen, S., Sienko, K. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+phone+based+balance+trainer.">Cell phone based balance trainer.</a> Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 9, 1-14 (2012).</li><li>Sienko, K. H., Balkwill, M. D., Wall, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biofeedback+improves+postural+control+recovery+from+multi-axis+discrete+perturbations.">Biofeedback improves postural control recovery from multi-axis discrete perturbations.</a> Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 9, 53-64 (2012).</li><li>Williams, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Design+and+Evaluation+of+an+Instrumented+Wobble+Board+for+Assessing+and+Training+Dynamic+Seated+Balance.">Design and Evaluation of an Instrumented Wobble Board for Assessing and Training Dynamic Seated Balance.</a> Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 140, 1-10 (2017).</li><li>van Die&#235;n, J. H., Koppes, L. L. J., Twisk, J. W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Postural+sway+parameters+in+seated+balancing;+their+reliability+and+relationship+with+balancing+performance.">Postural sway parameters in seated balancing; their reliability and relationship with balancing performance.</a> Gait Posture. 31, 42-46 (2010).</li><li>Sigrist, R., Rauter, G., Riener, R., Wolf, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Augmented+visual,+auditory,+haptic,+and+multimodal+feedback+in+motor+learning:+A+review.">Augmented visual, auditory, haptic, and multimodal feedback in motor learning: A review.</a> Psychonomic Bulletin and Review. 20, 21-53 (2013).</li></ol>

Methods for constructing a portable, instrumented, sitting device are presented. The device is portable and durable, building on previous studies of wobble chairs2,4 and vibrational feedback5,6,7 to make the benefits of these tools more powerful and accessible. Follow the assembly protocol in reverse to prepare the device for transportation or storage. The difficulty of ...

Upright sitting is a prerequisite for other human sensorimotor functions, including skilled movements (e.g., typing) and perturbed balance tasks (e.g., riding on a train). To rehabilitate and improve sitting and related functions, modern balance training techniques are used: unstable surfaces perturb sitting1,2 and motion tracking quantifies balance proficiency3,4. Balance training outcomes improve when vibration is delivered to the body using patterns that match performance5. Such sensory feedback is evidently effective as a rehabilitation and training method; yet, current sensory feedback methods are geared towards standing balance and require laboratory-based equipment6,7.
The purpose of the work presented here is to build a portable device that can be sat upon and passively destabilized to various degrees while built-in instruments record its position and deliver vibrational feedback to the sitting surface. This combination of tools integrates previous work on wobble chairs2,4 and vibrational feedback5,6,7, making the benefits of these tools more powerful and accessible. Also presented are a procedure to train upright sitting and an analysis of the quantitative outcomes, following the established literature on posturographic measures8. These methods are appropriate for studying the effects of sitting balance exercise with an unstable surface when combined with vibrational feedback. Anticipated applications include sports training, general improvement of motor coordination, assessment of balance proficiency, and rehabilitation following skeletal, muscular, or neurological injury.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Chassis</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>8657K421</td>
			<td>Moisture-Resistant LDPE Polyethylene Sheet 1-1/2&#34; Thick, 24&#34; X 24&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lid</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>8657K414</td>
			<td>Moisture-Resistant LDPE Polyethylene Sheet 1/4&#34; Thick, 24&#34; X 24&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Base</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>8657K414</td>
			<td>Moisture-Resistant LDPE Polyethylene Sheet 1/4&#34; Thick, 24&#34; X 24&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Grip-Tape</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>6243T471</td>
			<td>Nonabrasive Antislip Tape, Textured, 6&#34; Wide Strip, 2&#39; Long, Black</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Base Nut</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>90596A039</td>
			<td>Steel Round-Base Weld Nut, 5/8&#34;-11 Thread Size</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Weld Plate</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>1388K142</td>
			<td>Low-Carbon Steel Sheet 1/16&#34; Thick, 3&#34; X 3&#34;, Ground Finish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Threaded Rod</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>90322A170</td>
			<td>3&#34; 5/16&#34;-18 Medium-Strength Alloy Steel Threaded Stud</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sleeve</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>8745K19</td>
			<td>Chemical-Resistant PVC (Type I) Rod 1-1/4&#34; Diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Square Flange</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>8910K395</td>
			<td>Low Carbon Steel Bar, 1/8&#34; Thick, 1&#34; Wide</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hitch</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>4931T123</td>
			<td>Bolt-Together Framing Heavy-Duty Steel, 1-1/2&#34; Square</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Curved Base</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>8745K48</td>
			<td>PVC Rod, 6&#34; Diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hitch Insert</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>6535K313</td>
			<td>Bolt-Together Framing Heavy-Duty Steel, 1&#34; Square</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Extrusion</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>6545K7</td>
			<td>1045 Cold Drawn Steel Square Bar Stock, 1&#39; X 1&#34; Wide, Unpolished</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clamp</td>
			<td>Vlier</td>
			<td>TH103A</td>
			<td>Adjustable Torque Knob</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Footrest</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>6582K431</td>
			<td>4130 Steel Tubing, 1&#34; X 1&#34; Wide, 0.065&#34; Wall Thickness, Unpolished Mill Finish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Counterwieght</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>8910K67</td>
			<td>Low-Carbon Steel Rectangular Bar 1-1/8&#34; Thick, 4&#34; Width</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Clevis Pin</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>97245A616</td>
			<td>Zinc-Plated Steel Clevis Pin with Hairpin Cotter Pin, 3/16&#34; Diameter, 1-9/16&#34; Usable Length</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microprocessor</td>
			<td>Arduino</td>
			<td>MEGA 2560</td>
			<td>Microcontroller board with 54 digital I/O pins and USB connection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Inertial Measurement Unit</td>
			<td>x-io Technologies Ltd.</td>
			<td>x-IMU</td>
			<td>Inertial Measurement Unit and Attitude Heading Reference System with enclosure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vibrating Tactor</td>
			<td>Precision Microdrives</td>
			<td>DEV-11008</td>
			<td>Lilypad Vibe Board, available from SparkFun Electronics</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a vibrotactile feedback device for seated balance assessment and training

Postural perturbations, motion tracking, and sensory feedback are modern techniques used to challenge, assess, and train upright sitting, respectively. The goal of the developed protocol is to construct and operate a sitting platform that can be passively destabilized while an inertial measurement unit quantifies its motion and vibrating elements deliver tactile feedback to the user. Interchangeable seat attachments alter the stability level of the device to safely challenge sitting balance. A built-in microcontroller allows fine-tuning of the feedback parameters to augment sensory function. Posturographic measures, typical of balance assessment protocols, summarize the motion signals acquired during timed balance trials. No dynamic sitting protocol to date provides variable challenge, quantification, and sensory feedback free of laboratory constraints. Our results demonstrate that non-disabled users of the device exhibit significant changes in posturographic measures when balance difficulty is altered or vibrational feedback provided. The portable, versatile device has potential applications in rehabilitation (following skeletal, muscular, or neurological injury), training (for sports or spatial awareness), entertainment (via virtual or augmented reality), and research (of sitting-related disorders).

Table 2 shows, for each experimental condition, the posturographic measures derived from observations of the AP and ML support surface tilts, averaged over 144 balance trials performed by 12 participants (2 x 2 x 3 trials per participant).
Effect of Changing the Balance Condition: The base condition was chosen to be dependent on the eye condition (i.e., when the eyes were closed, the ba...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training at JoVE.com

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training

A sitting platform has been developed and assembled that passively destabilizes sitting posture in humans. During the user&#39;s stabilizing task, an inertial measurement unit records the device&#39;s motion, and vibrating elements deliver performance-based feedback to the seat. The portable, versatile device may be used in rehabilitation, assessment, and training paradigms.

Postural perturbations, motion tracking, and sensory feedback are modern techniques used to challenge, assess, and train upright sitting, respectively. ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device (OPAD) to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior

Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior

We present an operant  system for the detection of pain in awake, conscious rodents. The Orofacial  Pain Assessment Device (OPAD) assesses pain behaviors ...

Vision Training Methods for Sports Concussion Mitigation and Management

There is emerging evidence supporting the use vision training, including light board training tools, as a concussion baseline and neuro-diagnostic tool ...

Assessment of Social Cognition in Non-human Primates Using a Network of Computerized Automated Learning Device (ALDM) Test Systems

Assessment of Social Cognition in Non-human Primates Using a Network of Computerized Automated Learning Device ALDM Test Systems

Fagot &#38; Paleressompoulle1 and Fagot &#38; Bonte2 have published an automated learning device (ALDM) for the study of cognitive abilities of monkeys ...

Combined Shuttle-Box Training with Electrophysiological Cortex Recording and Stimulation as a Tool to Study Perception and Learning

Shuttle-box avoidance learning is a well-established method in behavioral neuroscience and experimental setups were traditionally custom-made; the ...

Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback

During motor behaviour, humans interact with the environment by for example manipulating objects and this is only possible because sensory feedback is ...

Feeding Experimentation Device (FED): Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents

Feeding Experimentation Device FED: Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents

Food intake measurements are essential for many research studies. Here, we provide a detailed description of a novel solution for measuring food intake in ...

Introducing Clicker Training as a Cognitive Enrichment for Laboratory Mice

Establishing new refinement strategies in laboratory animal science is a central goal in fulfilling the requirements of Directive 2010/63/EU. Previous ...

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Subjects eat food from a plate that sits on a scale connected to a computer that records the weight loss of the plate during the meal and makes up a curve ...

Multi-Modal Signals for Analyzing Pain Responses to Thermal and Electrical Stimuli

The assessment of pain relies mostly on methods that require a person to communicate. However, for people with cognitive and verbal impairments, existing ...

Short Session High Intensity Interval Training and Treadmill Assessment in Aged Mice

High intensity interval training (HIIT) is emerging as a therapeutic approach to prevent, delay, or ameliorate frailty. In particular short session HIIT, ...