title: Does proprioceptive system stimulation improve sit-to-walk performance in healthy young adults?
abstract: [Purpose] Sit-to-walk performance is linked to proper proprioceptive information processing. Therefore, it is believed that an increase of proprioceptive inflow (using muscle vibration) might improve sit-to-walk performance. However, before testing muscle vibration effects on a frail population, assessment of its effects on healthy young people is necessary. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of muscle vibration on sit-to-walk performance in healthy young adults. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen young adults performed the sit-to-walk task under three conditions: without vibration, with vibration applied before movement onset, and with vibration applied during the movement. Vibration was applied bilaterally for 30 s to the tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and upper trapezius muscles bellies. The vibration parameters were as follows: 120 Hz and 1.2 mm. Kinematics and kinetic data were assessed using a 3D motion capture system and two force plates. The coordinates of reflective markers were used to define the center-of-mass velocities and displacements. In addition, the first step spatiotemporal variables were assessed. [Results] No vibration effect was observed on any dependent variables. [Conclusion] The results show that stimulation of the proprioceptive system with local muscle vibration does not improve sit-to-walk performance in healthy young adults.
authors.affiliation: Posture and Locomotion Studies Laboratory, Department of Physical Education, Bioscience Institute, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcelo P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Posture and Locomotion Studies Laboratory, Department of Physical Education, Bioscience Institute, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paulo H S
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pelicioni
authors.affiliation: Posture and Locomotion Studies Laboratory, Department of Physical Education, Bioscience Institute, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahr
authors.affiliation: Posture and Locomotion Studies Laboratory, Department of Physical Education, Bioscience Institute, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lilian T B
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Gobbi
keywords: Key wordsSit-to-walk; Muscle vibration; Proprioception