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Keywords

electromyography, joint position sense, neuromuscular control

Abstract

Context: Neurological structures of the somatosensory system provide proprioceptive and neuromuscular input regarding joint positioning to the brain. Lower extremity motor control relies on local proprioceptive input to the central nervous system and neuromuscular control of individual joints to produce coordinated, global responses to external events. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between ankle proprioception and lower extremity muscle reaction time in response to an unexpected ankle inversion perturbation.

Methods: Twenty healthy college-aged volunteers were recruited to participate by word of mouth. Absolute and exact errors for passive joint position sense (PJPS) were assessed using a Biodex Multijoint System. A custom-made walkway platform with an inversion trapdoor was used to assess muscle reactions during unexpected perturbation.

Results: Pearson’s correlations were run between the subjects’ PJPS and the reaction times of the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior. No significant correlations (P > .05) were found for either muscle.

Conclusions: In a healthy population, there does not appear to be a relationship between muscle reaction times and PJPS. Additional research should examine this topic in individuals with a history of ankle injury.

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