Reduced plantar sole sensitivity induces balance control modifications to compensate ankle tendon vibration and vision deprivation

The aim of this study was to investigate if sensory reweighting occurred to control balance when the sensitivity of the plantar sole is reduced using cooling. To address this question, visual information was manipulated and/or ankle proprioception was altered by Achilles tendon vibration. It was expected that Achilles tendon vibration and vision deprivation would induce greater center of pressure (CoP) excursions and/or increase of electromyographic (EMG) activity of the ankle muscles (triceps surea and tibialis anterior) with than without cooling of the plantar sole. To verify these hypotheses, the CoP and EMG activity of the ankle muscles were simultaneously recorded during quiet standing trials of 30s before and after feet cooling procedure. Results showed that plantar sole sensitivity alteration did not lead to larger CoP excursions even during Achilles tendon vibration in absence of vision. This could be explained by an increase in the EMG activity of the triceps surae after the cooling procedure without modification of tibialis anterior EMG activity. This study suggests that to compensate alteration in plantar sole sensitivity, the central nervous system increased the muscular activity of the triceps surae to limit CoP excursions.