Ankle proprioception is not targeted by exercises on an unstable surface

Abstract

Laboratory study using a repeated measures design. The aim of this study was to determine if ankle proprioception is targeted in exercises on unstable surfaces. Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) has recurrence rates over 70%, which are believed to be due to a reduced accuracy of proprioceptive signals from the ankle. Proprioceptive exercises in rehabilitation of LAS mostly consist of balancing activities on an unstable surface. The methods include 100 healthy adults stood barefoot on a solid surface and a foam pad over a force plate, with occluded vision.Mechanical vibration was used to stimulate proprioceptive output of muscle spindles of triceps surae and lumbar paraspinal musculature. Each trial lasted for 60 s; vibration was applied from the 15th till the 30th second. Changes in mean velocity and mean position of the center of pressure (CoP) as a result of muscle vibration were calculated. Results show that on foam, the effect of triceps surae vibration on mean CoP velocity was significantly smaller than on a solid surface, while for paraspinal musculature vibration the effect was bigger on foam than on solid surface. Similar effects were seen for mean CoP displacement as outcome. Exercises on unstable surfaces appear not to target peripheral ankle proprioception. Exercises on an unstable surface may challenge the capacity of the central nervous system to shift the weighting of sources of proprioceptive signals on balance.

Time series of ground reaction forces following a single leg drop jump landing in elite youth soccer players consist of four distinct phases

“…(1) The mean COP speed ('COP speed'), which is the total COP path length divided by trial time [2,[28][29][30]. (2) The mean absolute COP sway ('COP sway'), which is the mean absolute distance of the COP trajectory to the average COP position [3,31].…”

“…Single leg balance performance has been significantly related to functional performance [1][2][3] and injuries, such as ankle sprains [4] and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency [5]. However, it has been suggested that single leg jump landing tasks may better detect differences in sensorimotor function than static single leg stance, since they are more challenging and sport specific [6][7][8].…”

Associations between Measures of Structural Morphometry and Sensorimotor Performance in Individuals with Nonspecific Low Back Pain

“…13,26 The STSTS task on an unstable support surface is ultimately challenging the sensorimotor system (including the proprioceptive system) because this condition requires additional reweighting of the proprioceptive signals due to the decreased reliability of proprioceptive signals from the ankle region. 59 Proprioception can be defined as "the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body," 60 and the unstable support surface forces the central nervous system to down-weight the less reliable ankle muscle proprioception and consequently to up-weight the proprioceptive input from more proximal segments, to provide optimal postural control. 59,61 Nevertheless, a faster performance on an unstable support surface compared with the stable condition was observed.…”

“…59 Proprioception can be defined as "the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body," 60 and the unstable support surface forces the central nervous system to down-weight the less reliable ankle muscle proprioception and consequently to up-weight the proprioceptive input from more proximal segments, to provide optimal postural control. 59,61 Nevertheless, a faster performance on an unstable support surface compared with the stable condition was observed. Because of the nonrandomized order of these conditions, this is possibly due to a learning effect.…”

Six-Week Combined Vibration and Wobble Board Training on Balance and Stability in Footballers With Functional Ankle Instability

“…This assumption, however, has been challenged on the basis that wobble board training alone does not actually target ankle proprioception deficits. 17 Kiers et al 17 proposed that training on unstable surface was alone not sufficient to stimulate ankle proprioceptors but did highlight the sensitivity of ankle muscle spindles to vibration stimulus and suggest that muscle spindles are key to ankle proprioception and overall body orientation. These results suggest that clinicians need to consider more effective exercises in ankle rehabilitation and warrant further investigation into the inclusion of vibration stimulus.…”