The effect of texture under distinct regions of the foot sole on human locomotion

Sensory feedback from the foot sole plays an important role in shaping human locomotion. While net muscle activity and kinematic changes have been correlated with electrical stimulation to five topographical regions of the foot, it remains unknown if these responses are similar with tactile stimulat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental brain research 2022-08, Vol.240 (7-8), p.2175-2189
Main Authors: Robb, Kelly A., Perry, Stephen D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Calcaneus
Electrical stimuli
Evaluation
Feet
Gait
Kinematics
Leg
Locomotion
Mechanoreceptors
Muscle function
Muscles
Neurology
Neurosciences
Research Article
Sensory adaptation
Tactile stimuli
Walking
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Summary:Sensory feedback from the foot sole plays an important role in shaping human locomotion. While net muscle activity and kinematic changes have been correlated with electrical stimulation to five topographical regions of the foot, it remains unknown if these responses are similar with tactile stimulation. The purpose of this study was to use texture in foot orthosis design, applied to five distinct regions under the foot sole, and measure joint kinematics, location of center of pressure, and muscle activity of eight lower leg muscles during level and incline walking. Fifty-five healthy adults completed 48 walking trials in textured and non-textured foot orthoses. Study results confirm that tactile stimulation is stimulation-site and gait-phase specific in modulating lower leg muscle activity during walking. For example, texture under the lateral forefoot consistently generated a suppression of EMG and texture under the lateral midfoot always generated a facilitation. In early stance, adding texture under the medial midfoot or calcaneus facilitated extensor muscle activity and suppressed flexor muscle activity. Texture under the lateral midfoot or medial forefoot facilitated tibialis posterior activation. These results support the topographical organization of cutaneous mechanoreceptors in foot sole skin while considering how texture can be used in foot orthosis design to target lower leg muscular changes during locomotion.
ISSN:0014-4819
1432-1106
DOI:10.1007/s00221-022-06402-x