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Frontiers in Public Health 2023Osteoporosis, characterized by reduced bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration, poses a significant public health concern due to increased fracture...
BACKGROUND
Osteoporosis, characterized by reduced bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration, poses a significant public health concern due to increased fracture susceptibility. Beyond bone health, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess and compare lower extremity proprioception and postural stability in individuals with and without osteoporosis and to explore their correlation within the osteoporosis group.
METHOD
In this prospective cross-sectional study, 80 participants were divided into two groups: osteoporosis ( = 40) and control ( = 40). The demographic characteristics and clinical parameters of the participants were as follows: Age (years) - Osteoporosis group: 65.04 ± 4.33, Control group: 65.24 ± 4.63; Sex (%) - Osteoporosis group: Male 30%, Female 70%; Control group: Male 30%, Female 70%; Body mass index (kg/m) - Osteoporosis group: 23.7 ± 3.2, Control group: 24.5 ± 4.6; T-score (Lumbar) - Osteoporosis group: -2.86 ± 1.23, Control group: 0.27 ± 0.58; T-score (hip) - Osteoporosis group: -2.28 ± 0.79, Control group: 0.68 ± 0.86. Joint Position Sense (JPS) at the hip, knee, and ankle was assessed using a digital inclinometer, and postural stability was measured using computerized force platforms.
RESULT
Osteoporosis participants exhibited higher errors in hip (5.63° vs. 2.36°), knee (4.86° vs. 1.98°), and ankle (4.46° vs. 2.02°) JPS compared to controls. Postural stability measures showed increased anterior-posterior sway (10.86 mm vs. 3.98 mm), medial-lateral sway (8.67 mm vs. 2.89 mm), and ellipse area (966.88 mm vs. 446.19 mm) in osteoporosis participants. Furthermore, correlation analyses within the osteoporosis group unveiled significant positive associations between lower extremity proprioception and postural stability. Specifically, hip JPS exhibited a strong positive correlation with anterior-posterior sway ( = 0.493, = 0.003), medial-lateral sway ( = 0.485, p = 0.003), and ellipse area ( = 0.496, < 0.001). Knee JPS displayed a moderate positive correlation with anterior-posterior sway ( = 0.397, = 0.012), medial-lateral sway ( = 0.337, = 0.032), and ellipse area ( = 0.378, < 0.001). Similarly, ankle JPS showed a moderate positive correlation with anterior-posterior sway ( = 0.373, = 0.023), medial-lateral sway ( = 0.308, = 0.045), and ellipse area ( = 0.368, = 0.021).
CONCLUSION
These findings underscore the interplay between proprioceptive deficits, compromised postural stability, and osteoporosis, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to improve fall prevention strategies and enhance the quality of life for individuals with osteoporosis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Postural Balance; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Proprioception; Lower Extremity; Osteoporosis
PubMed: 38098834
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1287223 -
Eye (London, England) Feb 2015The sensory and motor control of human extraocular muscles (EOMs) have been subjected to considerable speculation in ophthalmic literature, often related to infranuclear... (Review)
Review
The sensory and motor control of human extraocular muscles (EOMs) have been subjected to considerable speculation in ophthalmic literature, often related to infranuclear structures such as the unique complement of muscle fibres and their associated sensory organs. The intrafusal fibres do not resemble their somatic counterparts and their peculiar morphology has raised questions about their proprioceptive capacity. No Golgi tendon organs have so far been observed and the myotendinous nerve endings, previously assumed to convey sensory information, have recently been argued to merely represent constituents of the efferent innervation serving the multiply innervated muscles fibres. These observations raise questions about the overall capacity to monitor the activity created by the generous efferent nerve supply observed in these muscles. Furthermore, the argued independent activity of muscular layers and compartments suggest that the required feedback must be highly structured and more specific than previously assumed. Yet, uncertainty about the source of such information remains. The purpose of this paper is to provide a short review of neuromuscular properties of human extraocular muscles. Their functional implications and the most reputable sources of proprioception will also be discussed. The promoted views are based on pertinent literature and previous research undertaken by the authors.
Topics: Eye Movements; Humans; Motor Neurons; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated; Oculomotor Muscles; Proprioception; Tendons
PubMed: 25397785
DOI: 10.1038/eye.2014.269 -
The Journal of Neuroscience : the... Jun 2021Perception is an active process, requiring the integration of both proprioceptive and exteroceptive information. In the rat's vibrissal system, a classical model for...
Perception is an active process, requiring the integration of both proprioceptive and exteroceptive information. In the rat's vibrissal system, a classical model for active sensing, the relative contribution of the two information streams was previously studied at the peripheral, thalamic, and cortical levels. Contributions of brainstem neurons were only indirectly inferred for some trigeminal nuclei according to their thalamic projections. The current work addressed this knowledge gap by performing the first comparative study of the encoding of proprioceptive whisking and exteroceptive touch signals in the oralis (SpVo), interpolaris (SpVi), and paratrigeminal (Pa5) brainstem nuclei. We used artificial whisking in anesthetized male rats, which allows a systematic analysis of the relative contribution of the proprioceptive and exteroceptive information streams along the ascending pathways in the absence of motor or cognitive top-down modulations. We found that (1) neurons in the rostral and caudal parts of the SpVi convey whisking and touch information, respectively, as predicted by their thalamic projections; (2) neurons in the SpVo encode both whisking and (primarily) touch information; and (3) neurons of the Pa5 encode a complex combination of whisking and touch information. In particular, the Pa5 contains a relatively large fraction of neurons that are inhibited by active touch, a response observed so far only in the thalamus. Overall, our systematic characterization of afferent responses to active touch in the trigeminal brainstem approves the hypothesized functions of SpVi neurons and presents evidence that SpVo and Pa5 neurons are involved in the processing of active vibrissal touch. The present work constitutes the first comparative study of the encoding of proprioceptive (whisking) and exteroceptive (touch) information in the rat's brainstem trigeminal nuclei, the first stage of vibrissal processing in the CNS. It shows that (1) as expected, the rostral and caudal interpolaris neurons convey primarily whisking and touch information, respectively; (2) the oralis nucleus, whose function was previously unknown, encodes both whisking and (primarily) touch touch information; (3) a subtractive computation, reported at the thalamic level, already occurs at the brainstem level; and (4) a novel afferent pathway probably ascends via the paratrigeminal nucleus, encoding both proprioceptive and exteroceptive information.
Topics: Animals; Brain Stem; Male; Proprioception; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Touch Perception; Vibrissae
PubMed: 33893218
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1410-20.2021 -
Journal of Applied Physiology... Sep 2022
Topics: Proprioception
PubMed: 36041481
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00409.2022 -
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Nov 2021Neuroanatomical investigations have associated cortical areas, beyond Primary Somatosensory Cortex (S1), with impaired proprioception. Cortical regions have included...
Neuroanatomical investigations have associated cortical areas, beyond Primary Somatosensory Cortex (S1), with impaired proprioception. Cortical regions have included temporoparietal (TP) regions (supramarginal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, Heschl's gyrus) and insula. Previous approaches have struggled to account for concurrent damage across multiple brain regions. Here, we used a targeted lesion analysis approach to examine the impact of specific combinations of cortical and sub-cortical lesions and quantified the prevalence of proprioceptive impairments when different regions are damaged or spared. Seventy-seven individuals with stroke (49 male; 28 female) were identified meeting prespecified lesion criteria based on MRI/CT imaging: 1) TP lesions without S1, 2) TP lesions with S1, 3) isolated S1 lesions, 4) isolated insula lesions, and 5) lesions not impacting these regions (other regions group). Initially, participants meeting these criteria (1-4) were grouped together into right or left lesion groups and compared to each other, and the other regions group (5), on a robotic Arm Position Matching (APM) task and a Kinesthesia (KIN) task. We then examined the behaviour of individuals that met each specific criteria (groups 1-5). Proprioceptive impairments were more prevalent following right hemisphere lesions than left hemisphere lesions. The extent of damage to TP regions correlated with performance on both robotic tasks. Even without concurrent S1 lesions, TP and insular lesions were associated with impairments on the APM and KIN tasks. Finally, lesions not impacting these regions were much less likely to result in impairments. This study highlights the critical importance of TP and insular regions for accurate proprioception. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This work advances our understanding of the neuroanatomy of human proprioception. We validate the importance of regions, beyond the dorsal column medial lemniscal pathway and S1, for proprioception. Further, we provide additional evidence of the importance of the right hemisphere for human proprioception. Improved knowledge on the neuroanatomy of proprioception is crucial for advancing therapeutic approaches which target individuals with proprioceptive impairments following neurological injury or with neurological disorders.
Topics: Female; Humans; Kinesthesis; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neuroanatomy; Proprioception; Stroke
PubMed: 34695704
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.120029 -
Neurobiology of Aging Nov 2022Nearly 75% of older adults in the US report balance problems. Although it is known that aging results in widespread brain atrophy, less is known about how brain...
Nearly 75% of older adults in the US report balance problems. Although it is known that aging results in widespread brain atrophy, less is known about how brain structure relates to balance in aging. We collected T- and diffusion-weighted MRI scans and measured postural sway of 36 young (18-34 years) and 22 older (66-84 years) adults during eyes open, eyes closed, eyes open-foam, and eyes closed-foam conditions. We calculated summary measures indicating visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular contributions to balance. Across both age groups, thinner cortex in multisensory integration regions was associated with greater reliance on visual inputs for balance. Greater gyrification within sensorimotor and parietal cortices was associated with greater reliance on proprioceptive inputs. Poorer vestibular function was correlated with thinner vestibular cortex, greater gyrification within sensorimotor, parietal, and frontal cortices, and lower free water-corrected axial diffusivity across the corona radiata and corpus callosum. These results expand scientific understanding of how individual differences in brain structure relate to balance and have implications for developing brain stimulation interventions to improve balance.
Topics: Brain; Postural Balance; Proprioception; Vestibule, Labyrinth; Water
PubMed: 36030560
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.07.013 -
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair Dec 2023Hand proprioception is essential for fine movements and therefore many activities of daily living. Although frequently impaired after stroke, it is unclear how hand...
BACKGROUND
Hand proprioception is essential for fine movements and therefore many activities of daily living. Although frequently impaired after stroke, it is unclear how hand proprioception evolves in the sub-acute phase and whether it follows a similar pattern of changes as motor impairments.
OBJECTIVE
This work investigates whether there is a corresponding pattern of changes over time in hand proprioception and motor function as comprehensively quantified by a combination of robotic, clinical, and neurophysiological assessments.
METHODS
Finger proprioception (position sense) and motor function (force, velocity, range of motion) were evaluated using robotic assessments at baseline (<3 months after stroke) and up to 4 weeks later (discharge). Clinical assessments (among others, Box & Block Test [BBT]) as well as Somatosensory/Motor Evoked Potentials (SSEP/MEP) were additionally performed.
RESULTS
Complete datasets from 45 participants post-stroke were obtained. For 42% of all study participants proprioception and motor function had a dissociated pattern of changes (only 1 function considerably improved). This dissociation was either due to the absence of a measurable impairment in 1 modality at baseline, or due to a severe lesion of central somatosensory or motor tracts (absent SSEP/MEP). Better baseline BBT correlated with proprioceptive gains, while proprioceptive impairment at baseline did not correlate with change in BBT.
CONCLUSIONS
Proprioception and motor function frequently followed a dissociated pattern of changes in sub-acute stroke. This highlights the importance of monitoring both functions, which could help to further personalize therapies.
Topics: Humans; Activities of Daily Living; Motor Disorders; Upper Extremity; Proprioception; Stroke
PubMed: 37953595
DOI: 10.1177/15459683231207355 -
Neuropsychologia Aug 2018The experience of our body as our own (i.e. body ownership) involves integrating different sensory signals according to their contextual relevance (i.e. multisensory...
The experience of our body as our own (i.e. body ownership) involves integrating different sensory signals according to their contextual relevance (i.e. multisensory integration). Until recently, most studies of multisensory integration and body ownership concerned only vision, touch and proprioception; the role of other modalities, such as the vestibular system and interoception, has been neglected and remains poorly understood. In particular, no study to date has directly explored the combined effect of vestibular and interoceptive signals on body ownership. Here, we investigated for the first time how Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (left, right, sham), tactile affectivity (a reclassified interoceptive modality manipulated by applying touch at C-tactile optimal versus non-optimal velocities), and their combination, influence proprioceptive and subjective measures of body ownership during a rubber hand illusion paradigm with healthy participants (N = 26). Our results show that vestibular stimulation (left GVS) significantly increased proprioceptive drift towards the rubber hand during mere visual exposure to the rubber hand. Moreover, it also enhanced participants' proprioceptive drift towards the rubber hand during manipulations of synchronicity and affective touch. These findings suggest that the vestibular system influences multisensory integration, possibly by re-weighting both the two-way relationship between proprioception and vision, as well as the three-way relationship between proprioception, vision and affective touch. We discuss these findings in relation to current predictive coding models of multisensory integration and body ownership.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Affect; Attention; Electric Stimulation; Female; Humans; Illusions; Judgment; Male; Middle Aged; Physical Stimulation; Proprioception; Touch; Touch Perception; Vestibule, Labyrinth; Young Adult
PubMed: 29940194
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.06.020 -
Journal of Neuroengineering and... Sep 2023Proprioception plays a key role in moving our body dexterously and effortlessly. Nevertheless, the majority of investigations evaluating the benefits of providing... (Review)
Review
Proprioception plays a key role in moving our body dexterously and effortlessly. Nevertheless, the majority of investigations evaluating the benefits of providing supplemental feedback to prosthetics users focus on delivering touch restitution. These studies evaluate the influence of touch sensation in an attempt to improve the controllability of current robotic devices. Contrarily, investigations evaluating the capabilities of proprioceptive supplemental feedback have yet to be comprehensively analyzed to the same extent, marking a major gap in knowledge within the current research climate. The non-invasive strategies employed so far to restitute proprioception are reviewed in this work. In the absence of a clearly superior strategy, approaches employing vibrotactile, electrotactile and skin-stretch stimulation achieved better and more consistent results, considering both kinesthetic and grip force information, compared with other strategies or any incidental feedback. Although emulating the richness of the physiological sensory return through artificial feedback is the primary hurdle, measuring its effects to eventually support the integration of cumbersome and energy intensive hardware into commercial prosthetic devices could represent an even greater challenge. Thus, we analyze the strengths and limitations of previous studies and discuss the possible benefits of coupling objective measures, like neurophysiological parameters, as well as measures of prosthesis embodiment and cognitive load with behavioral measures of performance. Such insights aim to provide additional and collateral outcomes to be considered in the experimental design of future investigations of proprioception restitution that could, in the end, allow researchers to gain a more detailed understanding of possibly similar behavioral results and, thus, support one strategy over another.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Limbs; Proprioception; Kinesthesis; Neurophysiology; Pain Management
PubMed: 37689701
DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01242-4 -
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Apr 2011To give an overview of the literature on knee proprioception in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To give an overview of the literature on knee proprioception in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients.
METHOD
A literature search was performed and reviewed using the narrative approach.
RESULTS
(1) Three presumed functions of knee proprioception have been described in the literature: protection against excessive movements, stabilization during static postures, and coordination of movements. (2) Proprioceptive accuracy can be measured in different ways; correlations between these methods are low. (3) Proprioceptive accuracy in knee OA patients seems to be impaired when compared to age-matched healthy controls. Unilateral knee OA patients may have impaired proprioceptive accuracy in both knees. (4) Causes of impaired proprioceptive accuracy in knee OA remain unknown. (5) There is currently no evidence for a role of impaired proprioceptive accuracy in the onset or progression of radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA). (6) Impaired proprioceptive accuracy could be a risk factor for progression (but not for onset) of both knee pain and activity limitations in knee OA patients. (7) Exercise therapy seems to be effective in improving proprioceptive accuracy in knee OA patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Recent literature has shown that proprioceptive accuracy may play an important role in knee OA. However, this role needs to be further clarified. A new measurement protocol for knee proprioception needs to be developed. Systematic reviews focusing on the relationship between impaired proprioceptive accuracy, knee pain and activity limitations and on the effect of interventions (in particular exercise therapy) on proprioceptive accuracy in knee OA are required. Future studies focusing on causes of impaired proprioceptive accuracy in knee OA patients are also needed, taking into account that also the non-symptomatic knee may have proprioceptive impairments. Such future studies may also provide knowledge of mechanism underlying the impact of impaired proprioceptive accuracy on knee pain and activity limitations.
Topics: Bandages; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Knee Joint; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Pain; Proprioception
PubMed: 21251988
DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2011.01.003