Effects of mediolateral whole-body vibration during gait with additional cognitive load

Abstract

Whole-body vibration (WBV) may increase musculoskeletal disorder risk among workers standing on vibrating surfaces for prolonged periods. Limited studies were conducted to comprehend WBV impact on individuals engaged in dynamic activities. This study explored the effects of different horizontal WBV frequencies on gait parameters, lower limb kinematics, and the cognitive response of healthy subjects. Forty participants walked at constant speed on a treadmill mounted on a horizontal shaker providing harmonic vibration with an amplitude of 1 m/s2 and frequencies 2–10 Hz, with inversely proportional amplitudes. A Psychomotor Vigilance Test measured reaction time while a motion capture system recorded walking kinematics. ANOVA results revealed no significant impact of vibration frequencies on the reaction time. At 2 Hz, alterations in gait spatiotemporal parameters were significant, with reduced stride length, stride time, step length, and stance time and increased step width and cadence. Similarly, gait variability measured by standard deviation and coefficient of variation significantly increased at 2 Hz compared to the other conditions. Comparably, kinematic time series analyzed through statistical parametric mapping showed significant adjustments in different portions of the gait cycle at 2 Hz, including increased hip abduction and flexion, greater knee flexion around the heel strike, and augmented ankle dorsiflexion. Participants exhibited gait kinematic variations, mainly at 2 Hz, where the associated mediolateral displacement was higher, as a plausible strategy to maintain stability and postural control during perturbed locomotion. These findings highlight individuals’ complex biomechanical adaptations in response to horizontal WBV, especially at lower frequencies, under dual-task conditions.