The effect of compression and combined compression-tactile stimulation on lower limb somatosensory acuity

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

Sports and Active Living

Sarah B. Wallwork¹  Ashleigh Marchant²  Gordon Waddington²  Jeremy Witchalls²  Nick Ball² 

[1] IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia;Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia;

关键词: compression garment;    cutaneous feedback;    proprioception;    somatosensation;    tactile sensation;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fspor.2023.1235611

 received in 2023-06-06, accepted in 2023-10-03,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLower limb somatosensation and proprioception are important for maintaining balance. Research has shown that compression garments or exposure to textured surfaces, can enhance somatosensation however, little is known about the effect of combined compression and texture on somatosensory acuity in the lower limb. This study aimed to assess the effects of combined compression socks with a plantar textured sole, on lower limb somatosensory acuity.MethodsThirty participants completed a somatosensory acuity task (active movement extent discrimination apparatus; AMEDA) under three conditions: barefoot (control condition), standard knee-high compression sock (compression sock), and knee-high compression sock with internal rubber nodules situated on the sole (textured-compression sock). Somatosensory acuity was assessed between the different sock conditions for the (i) entire group, (ii) high performers, and (iii) low performers. It was hypothesized that low performers would see gains wearing either sock, but the greatest improvement would be in the textured-compression sock condition.ResultsAMEDA scores were not significantly different between conditions when the entire group was analyzed (p = 0.078). The low performers showed an improvement in somatosensory acuity when wearing the compression sock (p = 0.037) and the textured compression sock (p = 0.024), when compared to barefoot, but there was no difference between the two sock conditions (p > 0.05). The high performers did not show any improvement (p > 0.05 for all).ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that additional sensory feedback may be beneficial to individuals with lower baseline somatosensory acuity but is unlikely to provide benefit for those with higher somatosensory acuity.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
© 2023 Marchant, Wallwork, Ball, Witchalls and Waddington.