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Diminished plantar cutaneous sensation and postural control
1Kinesiology Program, Exercise and Sport Injury Laboratory, University of Virginia 22904-4407, USA. pom3b@virginia.edu
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|April 25, 2007
Summary
Cooling feet reduced postural sway in double-limb stance with eyes closed, but not with eyes open or during single-limb stance. This suggests altered sensory input impacts balance control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human motor control
- Sensory neuroscience
Background:
- Postural control relies on integrating sensory information, including plantar cutaneous feedback.
- Diminished sensation from the feet can affect balance, particularly in challenging conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how reduced plantar sensation from cooling impacts postural control.
- To examine effects during double- and single-limb quiet standing with varying visual input.
Main Methods:
- 32 healthy adults underwent balance testing after 10-minute foot ice immersion (intervention) or no cooling (control).
- Center of pressure (COP) velocity and area were measured during double- and single-limb stance with eyes open and closed.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction between sensation and vision was found for COP area in double-limb stance.
- Reduced plantar sensation led to decreased COP area with eyes closed, but not eyes open.
- No significant differences in postural control were observed during single-limb stance.
Conclusions:
- Diminished plantar sensation alters postural control strategies, particularly when visual input is limited.
- Reduced sway in double-limb stance with eyes closed may reflect a strategy to minimize exploratory movements due to altered afferent input.
- Plantar sensation's role in single-limb stance balance appears less critical under these experimental conditions.
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