Joint position sense error and muscle torque ratios of agonist and antagonist muscles in the ankle and knee joints of young adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Many studies have investigated the correlation between muscle torque and joint position sense (JPS), but few studies have been performed on the correlation between torque ratio and JPS.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to investigate JPS and muscle torque ratios of agonist and antagonist muscles in the ankle and knee joints of young adults.

METHODS:

A total of 38 right handed healthy participants, 12 males and 26 females, were recruited. All participants measured their peak torque of knee flexor/extensor and ankle dorsiflexor/plantar flexor by using a Biodex system. They also used the Biodex to assess the proprioception through active joint reposition sense test in knee and ankle joint. Peak torque of each muscle, agonist/antagonist torque ratio and JPS error were collected, and Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to examine correlations between peak torque, torque ratio and JPS error.

RESULTS:

For knee joints, correlations were found between flexion and extension torque, extension torque and torque ratio, and torque ratio and JPS error ( $r=$ 0.825/ $p=$ 0.000, $r=-$ 0.482/ $p=$ 0.002, and $r=-$ 0.685/ $p=$ 0.000, respectively). For ankle joints, correlations were found between dorsiflexion and plantar flexion torques, plantar flexion torque and torque ratio, plantar flexion torque and JPS, and torque ratio and JPS ( $r=$ 0.654/ $p=$ 0.000, $r=-$ 0.621/ $p=$ 0.000, $r=-$ 0.563/ $p=$ 0.000, and $r=-$ 0.761/ $p=$ 0.000, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

JPS error of lower extremity joint may be more related with agonist/antagonist torque ratio rather than peak torque. Therefore, people who will have training for reducing JPS error need to consider torque ratio, too.