Six month lower-leg mechanical tactile sensory stimulation alters functional network connectivity associated with improved gait in older adults with peripheral neuropathy - A pilot study.

ABSTRACT: Foot sole somatosensory impairment associated with peripheral neuropathy (PN) is prevalent and a strong independent risk factor for gait disturbance and falls in older adults. Walkasins, a lower-limb sensory prosthesis, has been shown to improve gait and mobility in people with PN by providing afferent input related to foot sole pressure distributions via lower-leg mechanical tactile stimulation. Given that gait and mobility are regulated by sensorimotor and cognitive brain networks, it is plausible improvements in gait and mobility from wearing the Walkasins may be associated with elicited neuroplastic changes in the brain. As such, this study aimed to examine changes in brain network connectivity after 26 weeks of daily use of the prosthesis among individuals with diagnosed PN and

SUBMITTER: Hsu CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9669982 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature