Influence of Achilles tendon vibration on the vertical posture during standing with asymmetrical leg loading

Abstract

The shift of center of pressure (CP) of body and CP of each leg was studied during Achilles tendon vibration of one or both legs while subject was standing with symmetrical load on the legs or with the load transferred on one leg. The CP shift of standing subject during unilateral Achilles tendon vibration depended both on the side of the tendon vibration and on the leg load. When standing with a load transferred on one leg the shift of common CP was larger than when the vibration was applied to the loaded leg. The CP shift of one leg was greater if the vibration, and the load was applied to it. Vibration of unloaded leg caused a CP shift in the contralateral loaded leg. In this case, the vibration of left unloaded leg caused no noticeable CP shift of left leg, while the vibration of the unloaded right leg caused CP shift of right foot. In the same conditions of load and vibration the CP displacement of right leg was larger than the CP shift of left foot. It can be assumed that the change in the load on the leg and unilateral vibration of leg muscles change of the internal representation of the vertical body axis, which affects the CP position of one leg during the muscles vibration.