Local muscle pressure stimulates the principal receptors for proprioception

Abstract

SUMMARYProprioception plays a crucial role in motor coordination and self-perception. Muscle spindles are the principal receptors for proprioception. They are believed to encode muscle stretch and signal limb position and velocity. Here, we applied percutaneous pressure to a small area of extensor muscles at the forearm while recording spindle afferent responses, skeletal muscle activity and hand kinematics. Three levels of sustained pressure were applied on the spindle-bearing muscle when the hand was relaxed and immobile (‘isometric’ condition) and when the participant’s hand moved rhythmically at the wrist. As hypothesized to occur due to compression of the spindle capsule, we show that muscle pressure is an ‘adequate’ stimulus for human spindles in isometric conditions, and that pressure enhances spindle responses during stretch. Interestingly, release of sustained pressure in isometric conditions lowered spindle firing below baseline rates. Our findings urge a re-evaluation of muscle proprioception in sensorimotor function and various neuromuscular pathologies.HIGHLIGHTSLocal muscle pressure is an adequate stimulus for spindles in isometric conditionsRelease of pressure in isometric conditions lowers spindle firing below baseline ratesLocal muscle pressure enhances spindle afferent responses during muscle stretch