Effect of cooling foot sole skin receptors on achilles tendon reflex

Abstract

This study investigated whether a controlled reduction of foot sole temperature affects the Achilles tendon stretch reflex and plantar flexion. Methods Five stretch reflexes in 52 healthy subjects were evoked by Achilles tendon taps. Short latency responses of 3 muscles of the lower limb and maximal force of plantar flexion were analyzed. Foot sole hypothermia was induced by a thermal platform at various foot temperature conditions: Stage I (25°C), Stage II (12°C), Stage IIIa (0°C), and Stage IIIb (0°C). Results Reduction of plantar cutaneous inputs resulted in a decrease in amplitude of medial gastrocnemius and soleus as well as delays in time to maximal force of plantar flexion. Medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius, and soleus were affected differently by induced cooling. No inhibition effects in reflexes were observed at 12°C. Conclusions The results suggest that input on the plantar foot sole participates complementarily in the Achilles stretch reflex Muscle Nerve, 2015. Muscle Nerve 53: 965-971, 2016.

Different visual manipulations have similar effects on quasi-static and dynamic balance responses of young and older people

“…For example, visual information needs to be combined with certain proprioceptive information to enable standardized body coordinates. Note that such sensory combinations have already been shown to occur in early stages of signal processing at the spinal cord level ( Lowrey & Bent, 2009 ; Germano, Schlee & Milani, 2016 ). In case of lost or diminished information from one or more afferent receptors, as in the visually deprived situations in the present study, the central nervous system alters the processing of afferent information to maintain balance and the remaining, intact systems may compensate this absence using reweighing processes to maintain balance ( Brocklehurst, Robertson & James-Groom, 1982 ).…”

Effects of hypothermically reduced plantar skin inputs on anticipatory and compensatory balance responses

“…For example, Lowrey and Bent [ 43 ] proved that there is a strong coupling between foot skin sensitivity and vestibular inputs, and that those two inputs influence muscle reflex activity. Another study also proved the relationship between plantar sensitivity and Achilles tendon reflex through induction of hypothermia [ 44 ]. Our findings suggest that for anticipatory responses during intervals 0 and 1, combination and integration processes may be responsible for a compensatory mechanism of the reduced plantar skin sensitivity.…”

Postural performance and plantar cutaneous vibration perception in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

“…Therefore, it seems crucial to investigate the functionality of single subsystems individually. Given the fact that the soles of our feet are the only direct contact between the body and the ground while standing and walking, the relevance of plantar cutaneous mechanoreceptor input for postural performance has already been confirmed [18,19,20].…”

“…Since it has been shown that changes in skin temperature affect tactile perception, the foot rest was equipped with a thermal element, which was adjusted to approx. 20 C to assure comparability [18,19,20]. Prior to the examination, all participants underwent an acclimatization period of approx.…”