The Function of the Proprioceptive, Vestibular and Visual Systems Following Fatigue in Individuals With and Without Chronic Ankle Instability

Abstract

To maintain postural balance, the proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual systems continuously provide body position and movement data to the central nervous system. In this study, our main aim was to examine, for the first time, the influence of anaerobically or aerobically induced fatigue on these separate functions in persons with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI). We obtained assessments pre- and post-fatigue protocols from 60 physical education students ( Mage = 24.3, SD = 3.4) Twenty-seven students had CAI, and 33 students did not have CAI). To measure proprioception, we used the AMEDA device; for vision, we used near point of convergence (NPC); and, for vestibular function, we used subjective visual vertical (SVV). We found a pre-post proprioception (AMEDA) effect in the aerobic group ( p < .001), and a visual (NPC) effect in both anaerobic and aerobic participant groups (both p < .001). There were no visual system (NPC) fatigue effect differences among aerobic or anerobic participants who had or did not have CAI ( p = .047); there was a significant aerobic fatigue effect on proprioception (AMEDA) ( p = .010) that favored participants without CAI. There was a significant interaction effect between time of testing and CAI for visual (NPC) ( p = .003) in the aerobic group only. In both the anaerobic and aerobic groups, post-fatigue vestibular function (AMEDA) was significantly lower for those with than those without CAI (anaerobic: p = .030; and aerobic: p =.016). Thus, post-fatigue, participants with CAI showed worse proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular function than those without CAI. Future investigators should further examine each movement sense system in individuals with CAI.

Another Look at Fatigued Individuals with and without Chronic Ankle Instability: Posturography and Proprioception

“…We expected the reduction in vestibular input following fatigue (Derave et al, 2002; Lepers et al, 1997). Similar reduction was found using the subjective visual vertical assessment (Steinberg et al, 2022). The otolithic organs, sensitive to head accelerations (Zemkova & Hamar, 2014), probably decreased sensitivity and increased the detection threshold following the horizontal movements induced by running (Derave et al, 2002; Lepers et al, 1997).…”

“…Lepers and colleagues (Lepers et al, 1997) found less stimulation of vestibular input during cycle ergometer exercises than when running; as continuous stimulation of the vestibular system during running greatly decreases the sensibility threshold of the integrator centers of vestibular information, the sensitivity of otolithic organs to linear accelerations and head oscillations are probably less stimulated during cycling exercises than by running. Regarding the visual system, previous studies also identified a significant reduction of visual ability following fatigue (Derave et al, 2002;Ratka et al, 2020;Steinberg et al, 2022). The visual system may be the sensory system that is most disturbed by fatiguing exercise (Ratka et al, 2020;Zemkova & Hamar, 2014).…”

“…This pre-to post-fatigue reduction is in line with the findings of several previous studies (Kozinc et al, 2021; Lyu et al, 2021; Steinberg et al, 2016a, 2016b), whereby both anaerobic and aerobic protocols caused a balance impairment due to fatigue (Chaubet et al, 2012). Although previous investigators suggested that this decreased stability was related to reductions in the combined quality of information provided by the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems (Lepers et al, 1997), few prior researchers examined the pattern of deterioration of each system individually (Steinberg et al, 2022; Yin et al, 2020; Zemkova & Hamar, 2014).…”

“…Sixty healthy physical education students from a teacher training college in Israel ( M age = 24.3, SD = 3.4; 26 females) participated in the previous study (Steinberg et al, 2022) and were enrolled in the current study. They were recruited through the mailing list of the author’s affiliated academic institution.…”

“…Yet the literature lacks data about the impact of anaerobic and aerobic protocols on each of the three sensory systems (vestibular, visual, and somatosensory) in individuals with and without CAI. Recently, Steinberg et al (2022) used the AMEDA device, visual near point of convergence and subjective visual vertical assessments to identify reduced function of the three systems in CAI participants following fatigue. In the current study, we aimed to extend our previous findings by incorporating a posturography assessment.…”