Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane
Published on: August 22, 2025
Effect of body orientation on proprioception during active and passive motions
Martijn H M Niessen1, Dirkjan H E J Veeger, Thomas W J Janssen
1Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Objective:
To investigate whether passive and active reproduction of joint position, as well as detection of passive motion (as measures of a subject's proprioception) of the shoulder differ while sitting compared with lying supine.
Design:
Shoulder proprioception of 28 healthy subjects (age, 22.2 +/- 1.7 yrs, 15 men) was tested. To test proprioception, angular motion (in degrees) for threshold to detection of passive motion and absolute matching error (in degrees) for passive and active reproduction of joint position were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. As a measure of consistency, the standard deviation per subject and test (threshold to detection of passive motion and passive and active reproduction of joint position) was measured over three trials. The test scores during sitting and lying supine were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Results:
No effect of body orientation on threshold to detection of passive motion and passive and active reproduction of joint position scores was found. Significantly larger errors were found during active reproduction of joint position compared with passive reproduction of joint position (F = 58.5; P < 0.01), and subjects were also significantly less accurate during active reproduction of joint position (F = 30.1; P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Body orientation does not significantly influence proprioceptive errors or consistency, whereas movement mode (active or passive) does. The significance of these findings is that, depending on the situation or the patient's ability, proprioception tests can be conducted while they are lying or sitting, but movement modes cannot be used interchangeably.
Related Concept Videos
Equilibrium and Balance
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
Gyroscope
The Vestibular System
Indirect Motor Pathways
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
Relative Motion Analysis using Rotating Axes
However, to express the relative position of point B relative to point A, an additional frame of reference, denoted as x'y', is necessary. This additional frame not only translates but also rotates relative to the fixed frame, making it instrumental in...

