Cortical Activation during Dorsi-Plantarflexion Tasks and Its Association with Sensorimotor Function in Ankle...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Kinesiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent condition affecting sensorimotor control.
• Understanding the neurophysiological underpinnings of CAI is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in cortical activation during a dorsi-plantarflexion task between individuals with and without CAI.
• To explore the association between sensorimotor function deficits and cortical activation patterns in CAI.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 31 adults with CAI and 31 healthy controls.
• Assessment of sensorimotor functions including joint position sense and force sense.
• Task-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a dorsi-plantarflexion task.

Main Results:

• Individuals with CAI demonstrated significantly worse joint position sense and force sense.
• CAI was associated with lower cortical activation in the sensorimotor network, including the right postcentral gyrus, right supplementary motor area (SMA), and left precentral gyrus.
• Weaker functional connectivity was observed between the right putamen and left precentral gyrus in individuals with CAI.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with CAI exhibit impaired sensorimotor function and altered cortical activation patterns compared to healthy controls.
• Neurophysiological alterations in the sensorimotor network are implicated in the pathophysiology of CAI.
• Plantarflexion position sense showed specific associations with cortical activation in CAI, suggesting targeted neural adaptations.