[Purpose] Recently, there has been growing interest in the somatosensory system, but
little data exist on the interaction between dynamic postural control and the
somatosensory system. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a training
program, based on tactile and proprioceptive sensory stimulation of the trunk with the use
of perceptual surfaces, improved the estimation of walking distance by healthy subjects,
the ability to walk toward a memorized distance without vision, and whether it increases
upright gait stability. [Subjects and Methods] Ten healthy subjects with a mean age of
31.9 ± 2.5 years were enrolled and participated in 10 daily sessions of perceptive
training using perceptual surfaces, for 45 minutes each session. An experimental indoor
test measured the subjects’ ability to perceive walking distances to a memorized target in
an indoor environment. [Results] After treatment, the distances that were traversed were
closer to the target than before treatment. Trunk acceleration did not differ
significantly between pre- and post-training and did not increase significantly after
training. [Conclusion] Treatment with perceptual surfaces stimulating the trunk midline
improves the estimation of walking distance and modifies proprioceptive gait patterns,
allowing various corrective strategies to be implemented during ambulation.