At a glance
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The Effect of Heel Skin Mechanoreceptors on Plantar Flexor Contraction Force
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Assesment of Plantar Flexion Muscle Strength During Heel Skin Mechanoreceptor Stimulation for Heel Skin Mechanoreceptors and Plantar Flexion Contraction Force. Completed, enrolled 29 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Previous studies have shown that stimulation of heel skin mechanoreceptors facilitates the soleus H-reflex, whereas stimulation of metatarsal region mechanoreceptors inhibits the soleus H-reflex. From this perspective, plantar cutaneous receptors may play an important role in the regulation of activities such as walking and running, as well as in the control of spasticity in patients with upper motor neuron lesions. Investigating the effect of heel skin mechanoreceptors on plantar flexor muscle contraction force may provide valuable insight into the potential influence of these mechanoreceptors on locomotor activities and muscle tone, and may offer a foundation for future studies directly addressing these topics.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
For the measurement of isometric muscle strength, participants lying prone on an examination table were instructed to perform maximal plantar flexion for 10 seconds. To achieve a submaximal contraction corresponding to 15% of their maximal contraction force, they were asked to follow the 15% threshold reference line displayed on the force channel on the screen. During the measurement of plantar flexion muscle strength, the cutaneous mechanoreceptors of the heel were stimulated with a square-wave electrical current with a pulse duration of 1 microsecond, at an intensity three times the sensory threshold. Electrical stimulation was delivered via a constant-current stimulator (Digitimer DS7A, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom). At the 15% contraction level, a train of five stimuli was delivered 10 times at intervals of 4-6 seconds. Measurements were repeated 10 times with 30-second intervals between each set.