Foot-sole reflex receptive fields for human withdrawal reflexes in symmetrical standing position

Human withdrawal-reflex receptive fields were assessed in 10 healthy subjects during standing with even support on both legs. Two electrical-stimulus intensities (1.2 and 2.2 times the pain threshold, PTh) were used. The painful stimuli were delivered in random order to 12 positions distributed over the foot sole. Tibialis anterior (TA), soleus (SO), vastus lateralis (VL), semitendinosus (ST), and iliopsoas (IL) reflexes were recorded. Further, the vertical force was recorded and the center or pressure (CoP) was assessed in the frontal and sagittal planes on both legs. Reflexes were observed at both intensities with the strongest reflexes at the high intensity. Around the ankle joint, SO reflexes dominated, which is in contrast to previous observations for subjects sitting. An unloading of the limb was found on the stimulated leg associated with a simultaneous loading of the contralateral leg. The shift in load was most pronounced for stimulation of the heel. The flexors ST and IL also had strong reflexes with reflex patterns correlated to the pattern of unloading. The shift in vertical force was accomplished by a move of the CoP in the anterior direction on the stimulated limb (contraction of SO), which simultaneously caused a small movement of the CoP in the lateral direction. In the present standing conditions, the ankle extensor played a dominant role in the withdrawal pattern in contrast to previous studies during sitting, relaxed conditions.