Transfer of Proprioceptive and Motor Learning In Upper Limb Joints
2020-06
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Transfer of Proprioceptive and Motor Learning In Upper Limb Joints
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2020-06
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Proprioceptive training has been shown to improve motor performance as well as joint proprioceptive function. What is unclear is to what extent such sensory training transfers to other neighboring or homologous joints or limbs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which proprioceptive training at one joint transfers to other joints. Specifically, I examined how the training of the right wrist joint improves proprioceptive acuity and motor performance in the ipsilateral elbow and the contralateral wrist joint. Methods: Thirty-two, healthy right-handed adults (mean age: 24.1yrs; 13 males) underwent a 3-day proprioceptive training regimen that trained their right, dominant wrists. They were randomly assigned to either an ipsilateral or contralateral transfer group. On each day, position sense acuity and motor performance of the trained right wrist and the untrained right elbow or left wrist was assessed before and after training. On Day 2, participants used a virtual reality environment combined with a wrist robotic exoskeleton to balance a virtual ball on a virtual table performing continuous, small amplitude wrist flexion/extension movements. Assessment of the right or left wrist was conducted using the same wrist robot, while the elbow function was assessed using a custom-built elbow manipulandum. The retention test was assessed 24 hours after proprioceptive training. A just-noticeable difference (JND) position sense threshold was obtained as a measure of position sense acuity. Motor accuracy error (MAE) between reference and matched joint positions during a goal-directed pointing movement (different from training) served as a measure of untrained motor performance. Results: First, proprioception training induced a significant reduction in the JND threshold (28.5%) and MAE (31.4%) at the trained, right wrist in both groups (p < 0.05). Second, right-wrist proprioceptive training led to significant gains in JND threshold (34.7%) and MAE (20.1%) at the ipsilateral untrained elbow. Third, right-wrist proprioceptive training led to significant gains in the JND threshold (31.8%), but no changes in MAE at the contralateral untrained wrist. Fourth, learning effects on untrained motor performance at the ipsilateral untrained elbow, and position sense acuity at the contralateral untrained wrist were not retained after 24 hours. Discussion: Proprioceptive training improved participants’ position sense acuity and untrained motor performance in the trained joint. This study provides evidence that such improvement in sensory or motor performance can transfer to neighboring or homologous joints. This provides a basis for the transfer of proprioceptive training programs for specific clinical populations with unilateral injury and immobilization.
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University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. June 2020. Major: Kinesiology. Advisor: Juergen Konczak. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 46 pages.
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Zhu, Huiying. (2020). Transfer of Proprioceptive and Motor Learning In Upper Limb Joints. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/216055.
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