Effect of light finger touch on postural sway after lower-limb muscular fatigue.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether a light finger touch can compensate for the increased postural sway induced by lower-limb muscular fatigue.


METHODS
Before-after trials.


METHODS
General community.


METHODS
Nine healthy university students (mean age, 23.8+/-2.6y; mean body weight, 72.7+/-6.9 kg; mean height, 177.2+/-7.5 cm).


METHODS
Participants stood with their feet together and eyes closed. They were asked to sway as little as possible in 4 conditions: no fatigue/no touch, no fatigue/touch, fatigue/no touch, and fatigue/touch. Calf muscle fatigue was induced by having participants stand on their toes until exhaustion. Touch conditions involved a gentle light touch with the right index finger on a nearby surface at waist height.


METHODS
Center of pressure displacements were recorded by using a force platform.


RESULTS
Light finger touch resulted in decreased postural sway in the no-fatigue and fatigue conditions. Interestingly, this stabilizing effect was more accentuated in the fatigue condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the contribution of the haptic cues from the finger for regulating postural sway increases after muscular fatigue. These findings could have implications in clinical and rehabilitative areas.
Université Joseph Fourier-Grenoble 1, France. nicolas.vuillerme@uif-grenoble.fr
Nicolas
N
Vuillerme
Vincent
V
Nougier
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*