The peroneal reaction time (PRT)--reference data in a healthy sample population.
BACKGROUND
Acute ankle sprains can result in severe residual symptoms, such as chronic ankle instability from weakness of the ligamentous complex or neuromuscular deficits. Measuring peroneal reaction time (PRT) has become a commonly accepted procedure for evaluating proprioceptive deficits.


METHODS
The present experimental study was conducted to determine the effects of anthropometric factors on PRT in 120 healthy volunteers. The patients were asked to stand on a platform with a tilting mechanism. Surface electrodes were used to record peroneal muscle activity in response to sudden inversion stress. The reaction of the peroneal muscles was analyzed using electromyography.


RESULTS
The statistical analysis showed similar intra-individual and inter-individual values for PRT. The results for the muscle groups measurements, however, varied considerably. PRT seems to increase significantly with age (long peroneal muscle: p < 0.0001, short peroneal muscle: p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
PRT was found to be an objective parameter that is unaffected by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The present study, however, also showed that PRT significantly increases with age. As for studies on PRT, as well as for clinical routine, it is important to consider the patients' ages.
Schmidt
Roland
R
Military Hospital, Surgical Department, Ulm, Germany. doc.r.schmidt@t-online.de
Gergroü
Heinz
H
Friemert
Benedikt
B
Herbst
Anne
A
Claes
Lutz
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values