title: Vibration-induced postural posteffects.
abstract: It generally is known that vibration of various muscles in free-standing subjects evokes a spatially oriented postural response. Furthermore, it recently has been shown that when a vibratory stimulus is terminated, a powerful involuntary contraction of the previously vibrated muscle often occurs that, under the isotonic condition, is accompanied by movement of a limb. The aim of this study was to explore effects of a low-amplitude mechanical vibration, applied in a seated position, on the standing posture. The 30-s vibration was applied bilaterally at the ankle level to anterior or posterior tendons and at the cervical level in front or back of the neck, at one site only at a time. Center of pressure trajectories were monitored during quiet stance for </=19 min after the offset of vibration, and these measurements were compared with a previbration control trial. The results clearly indicate that vibration produced in all subjects strong, long-lasting dynamical modification of posture mainly in the anterior-posterior direction. Spatial orientation of the induced postvibratory shift in posture was dependent on the vibration side. We conclude that sustained Ia sensory inflow, evoked by vibration, has a powerful after-effect on the motor system at the postural level.
authors.affiliation: Brockton/West Roxbury Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02132, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wierzbicka
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gilhodes
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Roll
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009333:Neck; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration