Optimizing interpersonal light touch instructions to improve standing balance: Examining the impact of different instructions on postural sway and its underlying neural mechanisms
This research explores how lightly touching another person, called interpersonal light touch (IPLT), can help people stay balanced while standing. Falls are a major health concern, especially for older adults and those with conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Previous studies show that lightly touching an object or another person adds sensory input to help improve balance. The proposed study tests whether giving people different instructions, like working together or guiding each other, can make IPLT more helpful. Researchers will measure how much people sway while standing and record brain activity using special equipment that tracks both partners at once. The goal is to understand how the brain processes the sensory input from IPLT to improve balance. The proposed study starts with healthy adults with plans to later expand to those with balance challenges. Results could lead to better fall prevention strategies and rehabilitation programs, helping people stay active and independent.
