Effect of Local Muscle Fatigue on the Proprioception of the Ankle Joint

Objective:To examine the effect of local muscle fatigue on the proprioception of the ankle joint.The joint position sense and force sense before and after local muscle fatigue were analyzed in order to provide the basis for the prevention from and treatment on sprained ankle.Methods:14 healthy male subjects were selected.The target angle of the ankle passively reposition was 5° of plantar flexion to measure joint position sense.The target force of the muscle was 25% maximal voluntary isometric contraction to measure muscle force sense.The method to fatigue was maximal concentric exercise with the velocity of 60.Repeated measures analysis was performed to compare the proprioception before and after the local muscle fatigue.Results:For the joint position sense and force sense,there was significant difference(P<0.05) between before and after the fatigue.Conclusions:1) The position sense of the ankle joint decreased after the maximal concentric muscle fatigue;2) The muscle force sense of the ankle joint decreased after the maximal concentric muscle fatigue;3) Changes in the central motor control strategy could occur after the maximal concentric muscle fatigue.