Effects of repetitive passive motion stimulation on knee proprioception

• Main Authors: Chia-Wei Wang, 王嘉偉
• Other Authors: Yan-Ying Ju
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/96015808125826277822

碩士 === 長庚大學 === 復健科學研究所 === 96 === Background: Proprioception is the perception of joint and body movements, as well as body or body segments positions, in space. It is provided primarily by joint mechanoreceptors, superficial receptors, and muscle afferents. Proprioception may be affected by many factors such as age, gender, disease, exercise, and fatigue. Up today, the mechanisms or pathways by which fatigue influences proprioception have not been elucidated. Generally, it is well accepted that local muscular effects occur during fatigue may negatively affect proprioception. It has been proposed that in addition to the metabolic acidosis resulting from actively muscle works, stretching and laxity of the joint resulted from the repetitive joint movements might also reduce proprioception. So far, little direct evidence or research supports this hypothesis. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of fatigue exercise and repetitive passive motions (RMP) on knee proprioception. Method: We employed a pretest-posttest control group design and used two active repositioning methods to measure knee proprioception before and following a fatigue exercise and a repetitive passive motion intervention. Result: Study results showed a statistically significant increase in absolute repositioning error following the fatigue exercise, and a decrease following the RPM intervention. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a RPM protocol (120°/s over a 10°~100° range, 60 rep) was capable of improving knee joint position sense. Meanwhile, the negative effect form the muscle receptors following the fatigue exercise overwhelmed the positive effect from the RPM intervention. Clinical relevance: This study supports the clinical utilization of RPM to promote proprioception. In addition, this study suggests routines of dynamic joint movements before exercise and sports to better enhance the warm-up effects, than merely using heat pack or hot bath.