The Role of the Plantar Mechanoreceptor in Standing Body Sway
1986 Volume 1986 Issue Supplement7 Pages 26-32
Details
1986 Volume 1986 Issue Supplement7 Pages 26-32
The role of the plantar reflex in control of bodily sway was examined stimulating the plantar mechanoreceptor. The stimulations were applied using boards with shotgun balls, that were placed 1,1.5, and 2 cm a part. The subjects were told to stand straight on the board and their body sway was analyzed by the stabilometer.
The results of the analysis indicated that factors such as the area of sway, the accumulated shift length caused by the sway and the velocity of sway all tended to decreased depending on the type of stimulation.
Experiments on neuron discharge from the tibial nerve fibers revealed that the number of neuron discharge was markedly higher when stimulations were given than without stimulation. These findings suggested that the increase in plantar mechanoreceptor input information was involved in a higher central nervous system control mechanism rather than the spinal level control system, and it was particularly effective in causing reflexes such as footing adjustment when right and left sway occur.
