Abstract
Studies have found that extremely low-frequency (ELF, < 300 Hz) magnetic fields (MF) can modulate standing balance; however, the acute balance effects of high flux densities in this frequency range have not been systematically investigated yet. This study explores acute human standing balance responses of 22 participants exposed to magnetic induction at 50 and 100 mTrms (MF), and to 1.5 mA alternating currents (AC). The center of pressure displacement (COP) was collected and analyzed to investigate postural modulation. The path length, the area, the velocity, the power spectrum in low (< 0.5 Hz) and medium (0.5–2 Hz) bands have computed and showed the expected effect of the positive control direct current (DC) electric stimulation but failed to show any significant effect of the time-varying stimulations (AC and MF). However, we showed a significant biased stabilization effect on postural data from the custom experimental apparatus employed in this work, which might have neutralized the hypothesized results.
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Abbreviations
- AC:
-
Alternative current
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- BPPV:
-
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- COP:
-
Center of pressure
- DC:
-
Direct current
- E-fields:
-
Electric field
- ELF:
-
Extremely low-frequency
- GVS:
-
Galvanic vestibular stimulation
- HFB:
-
High frequency band
- ICES:
-
International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety
- ICNIRP:
-
International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
- IEEE:
-
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- LFB:
-
Low frequency band
- MF:
-
Magnetic field
- MFB:
-
Medium frequency band
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Mr. Lynn Keenliside for his technical assistance and Mr. Rob Kavet for his expertise and assistance in the revision of this manuscript. This project was supported by: Hydro-Québec (Canada) EDF-RTE (France), NationalGrid and Energy Network Association (UK), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI–USA) and Lawson Internal Research funding. This work was also supported by MITACS through the MITACS-Accelerate Program. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, study approvals, or preparation of the manuscript.
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Villard, S., Allen, A., Bouisset, N. et al. Impact of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on human postural control. Exp Brain Res 237, 611–623 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-018-5442-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-018-5442-9