Development of a device to impose medio-lateral whole-body vibration while walking

A compact and light-weight set-up to impose medio-lateral vibration while walking has been designed and manufactured. A vibrating plate was actuated by a motor and a linear guide. After the design and finite-element analysis, the set-up has been manufactured and tested in the frequency band 0.5-4 Hz with amplitude below ± 20 mm, that is compatible for human testing. Total harmonic distortion has been measured below -30 dB. Crosstalk values along Z and Y measured at the corners of the moving platform were lower than 0.1 at 4 Hz. Given the previous analyses, the set-up can be used to test in a movement laboratory the effect of vibration during walking, mounting a walking pad on the platform.