To determine if there is any carry over effect of sensation training for the feet, officially called Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), will impact balance and fall risk factors in older individuals. This will be looked at to see if there is a difference in balance and sensation before and right after the training.
In order to increase acuity of body maps, various tactile and movement-based strategies have been recommended and supported for research focusing on sensory discrimination. Current evidence, specific to painful conditions related to altered cortical mapping, have shown growing evidence in reducing pain and disability. In regards to it's ability to alter foot pain in older adults and decreasing fall risk, prior conference case study and case series presentations have suggested potential clinical benefit, but it has not been formally studied. The aim of this study is to determine if a sensory discrimination training for feet in older adults can alleviate pain, improve sensory discrimination, and also decrease fall risk. Specifically, does a 20 minute training session improve pain, balance (Brief-BEST test), and sensory discrimination in individuals over 65 years of age. Secondary analysis may exam characteristics that best identify those who benefit from this training.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
42
GMI consisting of education, sensory integration of the foot using contact, flooring samples, immersion, and two point discrimination.
St. Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa, United States
Lower extremity pain rating
Change (from before treatment to immediately after treatment) in pain for the lower extremity using the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS - 0 to 10 where 0 = no pain and 10 + maximum pain)
Time frame: self-reported, change from before to immediately after treatment
Laterality Speed
Change (from before treatment to immediately after treatment) in speed of foot recognition using Recognize (TM) (speed in seconds to recognize each of 40 images as right or left foot)
Time frame: tested for 60 seconds before and immediately after treatment
Laterality Accuracy
Change (from before treatment to immediately after treatment) in accuracy of foot recognition using Recognize (TM) (percent accurately correctly identified as right or left foot of those 40 images)
Time frame: tested for 60 seconds before and immediately after treatment
Balance / fall risk
Change (from before treatment to immediately after treatment) in Brief-BESTest (6 task subsets to assess static and dynamic balance) (0 - 15 scale where 0 - lowest score / unstable and 15 = highest / no balance issues)
Time frame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment
Nerve Sensitivity Dorsum of dominant hand
Change (from before treatment to immediately after treatment) in Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) on dorsum of web space of dominant hand (in pounds)
Time frame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment
Nerve Sensitivity Dorsum of Right Foot
Change (from before treatment to immediately after treatment) in Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) on dorsum of right foot (in pounds)
Time frame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment
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Nerve Sensitivity Dorsum of Left Foot
Change (from before treatment to immediately after treatment) in Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) on dorsum of left foot (in pounds)
Time frame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment