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Published on: March 3, 2018
The effect of stress-induced cortisol increase on the sense of ankle proprioception
Deniz Şenol1, Cihat Uçar2, Mahmut Çay3
1Department of Anatomy, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
Objectives:
The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of stress-induced cortisol increase on the sense of ankle proprioception.
Patients And Methods:
Between April 2016 and May 2016, a total of 60 students (30 males, 30 females; mean age: 19.2±1.5 years; range, 19 to 20 years) from İnönü University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Freshmen were included in the study. Separate measurements were made for the right and left ankle to make ankle proprioception measurements a month before the committee exam during their relaxed period using a device designed with digital inclinometer. The sense of ankle proprioception was measured at 10° dorsiflexion (DF), 11° plantar flexion (PF), and 25° PF angles with open eyes and closed eyes using active reproduction test. Salivary samples were taken for stress assessment and State Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I) was conducted. The same tests were repeated on the day of committee exam.
Results:
Test results showed no statistically significant difference between the right and left ankle proprioception measurements of 10° DF, 11° PF, and 25° PF angles with open eyes (p>0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was found between the right and left ankle proprioception scores at the same angles with closed eyes (p<0.05). According to the Wilcoxon analysis conducted for the comparison of the relaxed and stressed periods of cortisol and STAI-I inventory, a statistically significant difference was found (p<0.05). The Spearman's Rho analysis showed no significant correlation between the right and left ankle proprioception scores and cortisol and STAI-I with open eyes, while there was a statistically significantly positive direction and low correlation between the same angles with closed eyes.
Conclusion:
Our study results show that the increase in the stress-related cortisol is negative for the ankle proprioception sense.
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