TY - JOUR

T1 - Improved sensorimotor control is not connected with improved proprioception

AU - Haas, C. T.

AU - Schulze-Cleven, K.

AU - Turbanski, Stephan

AU - Schmidtbleicher, Dietmar

N1 - 1st World Congress of Sports Injury Prevention

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - Purpose: To analyse whether improved sensorimotor control is based on improved proprioceptive capabilities. Methods: In total, 15 physical education students participated in the study. All subjects performed five series, taking 60 seconds each, of random whole body vibration. This treatment is known to improve postural control rapidly. Pre-treatment and post-treatment proprioceptive capabilities were tested using a specially constructed device. Via a goniometer fixed at the knee, joint subjects had to reproduce a slowly oscillating course, which was presented at a computer screen by knee extension and flexion. No feedback concerning success of the task was given. Before testing started, all subjects performed a couple of training sessions, thus they were able to reproduce the course precisely. Results: Performance of subjects was interindividually variable but intraindividually constant–that is, some subjects generated overshooting errors others produced undershooting errors. On average, the amplitude was 1 degree lower compared with the presented course. This error resulted from undershooting errors at both endpoints. Pre-treatment and post-treatment comparison showed only small and statistically insignificant (p>0.05) differences in all analysed parameters: amplitude, maximum endpoint, minimum endpoint, and rhythm. Conclusions: As the treatment leads to a strongly improved postural control of 20–30% (p<0.01) while proprioceptive capabilities do not change, it must be concluded that positive modifications of sensorimotor control can not be explained by an increased perceptive performance. Consequently, other mechanism that might explain these neuromuscular improvements have to be identified. We speculate about changes in interneurone function as well as about modifications in the supraspinal areas, such as in the supplementary motor area.

AB - Purpose: To analyse whether improved sensorimotor control is based on improved proprioceptive capabilities. Methods: In total, 15 physical education students participated in the study. All subjects performed five series, taking 60 seconds each, of random whole body vibration. This treatment is known to improve postural control rapidly. Pre-treatment and post-treatment proprioceptive capabilities were tested using a specially constructed device. Via a goniometer fixed at the knee, joint subjects had to reproduce a slowly oscillating course, which was presented at a computer screen by knee extension and flexion. No feedback concerning success of the task was given. Before testing started, all subjects performed a couple of training sessions, thus they were able to reproduce the course precisely. Results: Performance of subjects was interindividually variable but intraindividually constant–that is, some subjects generated overshooting errors others produced undershooting errors. On average, the amplitude was 1 degree lower compared with the presented course. This error resulted from undershooting errors at both endpoints. Pre-treatment and post-treatment comparison showed only small and statistically insignificant (p>0.05) differences in all analysed parameters: amplitude, maximum endpoint, minimum endpoint, and rhythm. Conclusions: As the treatment leads to a strongly improved postural control of 20–30% (p<0.01) while proprioceptive capabilities do not change, it must be concluded that positive modifications of sensorimotor control can not be explained by an increased perceptive performance. Consequently, other mechanism that might explain these neuromuscular improvements have to be identified. We speculate about changes in interneurone function as well as about modifications in the supraspinal areas, such as in the supplementary motor area.

KW - Physical education and sports

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

VL - 39

SP - 388

JO - British Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine

SN - 0306-3674

IS - 6

M1 - 65

ER -