THE EFFECT OF INCREASED EXTRINSIC MUSCLE LOADING ON THE ACCURACY OF KINESTHETIC POSITIONING.
Abstract
Two hundred and ten male subjects were positioned in an apparatus designed to determine the accuracy of positioning of both legs to specified angles. The 12 angular positions ranged from full extension to 110 deg of flexion. Each S was randomly assigned to one of the seven experimental conditions which ranged from 0 to 6 lbs of force applied to the apparatus in such a manner that the amount of effort required for leg movement was held constant for both flexion and extension. The constant error data indicate two definite ranges of accuracy-10 deg to 50 deg and 60 deg to 100 deg. Muscle load differentially affected the two ranges as to the amount and direction of error. The results also indicated that, in general, the 5 lb condition produced the greatest degree of accuracy. It was concluded that this load is the condition which most closely approximates the normal condition of limb movement. This result indicates that, contrary to recent physiological evidence, kinesthetic information is not solely mediated by joint afferents independent of muscles. Either peripherally or centrally, a certain minimum and possibly maximum amount of muscular activity must be present for this sensory system to operate at its optimum. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 22, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0684347
Entities
People
- Andree J. Lloyd
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Laboratory