The effect of fear of falling on vestibular feedback control of balance.

ABSTRACT: Vestibular sensation contributes to cervical-head stabilization and fall prevention. To what extent fear of falling influences the associated vestibular feedback processes is currently undetermined. We used galanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) to induce vestibular reflexes while participants stood at ground level and on a narrow walkway at 3.85 m height to induce fear of falling. Fear was confirmed by questionnaires and elevated skin conductance. Full-body kinematics was measured to differentiate the whole-body centre of mass response (CoM) into component parts (cervical, axial trunk, appendicular short latency, and medium latency). We studied the effect of fear of falling on each component to discern their underlying mechanisms. Statistical parametric mapping analysis provided sensitive d

SUBMITTER: de Melker Worms JLA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5617925 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature