The Effect of Mechanical Vibration Stimulation of Perception Subthreshold on the Muscle Force and Muscle Reaction Time of Lower Leg.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of mechanical vibration stimulation on the muscle force and muscle reaction time of lower leg according to perception threshold and vibration frequency. A vibration stimulation with perception threshold intensity was applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon. EMG measurement and analysis system were used to analyze the change of muscle force and muscle reaction time according to perception threshold and vibration frequency. A root-mean-square (RMS) value was extracted using analysis software and Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) and Premotor Time (PMT) were analyzed. The measurement results showed that perception threshold was different from application sites of vibration frequency. Also, the muscle force and muscle reaction time showed difference according to the presence of vibration, frequency, and intensity. This result means that the vibration stimulation causes the change on the muscle force and muscle reaction time and affects the muscles of lower leg by the characteristics of vibration stimulation.

1. Introduction

Decreased balance and muscle force with aging cause unstable gait, which often results in falls [1]. Gait is a continuous and repeated movement requiring ability to balance [2]. The ability to balance for gait requires integrated actions of sensory organs, central nerve system, ability to manage exercise, and muscle functions [3]. However, older adults have decreased speed of transferring signals in central nerve system as a response to stimuli for maintaining balance. And weakened muscle force of lower limb decreases the speed, stride, and step frequency and as a result, the risk of falls increases [4]. To prevent falls of the older adults, many studies have been conducted on the improvement of balance and strengthening of muscle force.

Somatosensory vibration stimulation has been proven to decrease the body sway and to increase the postural stability by some studies [5-9]. Eklund reported that the activation of muscles using vibration helped the stability of posture [10]. Also there are some studies that investigated the effect of vibration stimulation on the muscle functions. Curry and Clelland reported that the vibration stimulation increased MVC (Maximum Voluntary Contraction) [11], and Kang et al. reported that the systemic vibration exercise stimulated muscle nerves and shortened the muscle reaction time of the muscles [12].

However, many previous studies used only vibration stimulus with single characteristic and the different characteristics of individual vibration were not taken into consideration. Moreover, Pacinian corpuscle, a sensory receptor responding to vibration stimulation, was reported to respond sensitively at the frequency of 100 Hz–300 Hz [13-15]. However, such frequency range of vibration stimulation was too broad to investigate its effect on the muscle activities. As a result, a previous study was conducted to measure perception threshold to vibration stimulation and to investigate narrower frequency range to which sensory receptors respond more sensitively [16]. From the result of the study, this study will analyze the effect of vibration on the muscle force and muscle reaction time of lower leg according to perception threshold using MVC and PMT.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Subjects

Ten adult males (age: 26.9 ± 1.5, height: 171.2 cm ± 2, and weight: 65.9 kg ± 5.3) participated in this study. The subjects did not have any musculoskeletal diseases and neurological diseases. The subjects did not exercise regularly and have not had experienced special body and vibration exercise. The study was approved by the IRB of Chonbuk National University (IRB File number JBNU 2015-06-012).

2.2. Equipment

The small-linear actuator was used to apply vibration. A function generator was used to modify the intensity and frequency of vibration. To fix the small-linear actuator at the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon, we used rubber band. For EMG measurement, the electrodes (DELSYS Inc., Surface EMG Sensor) were attached on the tibialis anterior muscle and triceps surae and ground electrode was attached on the patella to obtain the muscle force and muscle reaction time. An auditory signal was prepared to measure PMT. The signal and vibration were applied simultaneously.

2.3. Measurement and Extraction of Muscle Force and Muscle Reaction Time

To investigate the change of muscle force and muscle reaction time by applying vibration stimulation, the MVC (Maximum Voluntary Contraction) and PMT (Premotor Time) were measured. For this purpose, EMG measurement system (Bagnoli™ Desktop EMG Systems, DELSYS Inc., USA) was used. The MVC is the maximum force which a subject can produce voluntary. PMT is the time that takes to reach the motor end plate through the cortex of the cerebrum and motor neuron from the point of stimulation. Therefore, PMT refers to the reaction time by nerve element [17]. The subject performed the MVC at the same time as vibration applied and measured the peak value of RMS (root-mean-square) EMG. The subject performed the muscle contraction at the same time as auditory signal. The time to muscle activation start time from the apply point of the auditory signal was extracted from the RMS EMG (Figure 1).

Figure 1

PMT extraction example.

2.4. Protocol

In order to investigate the change in the muscle force and muscle reaction time in accordance with the characteristics of the vibration stimulation (frequency, intensity), we made the vibration stimulation conditions. Based on previous studies that investigated vibration perceptive threshold according to vibration frequency, 180 Hz, 190 Hz, and 250 Hz were selected as the vibration stimulation frequency. Likewise, intensity of perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) was selected as the vibration stimulation intensity [16]. Seven vibration conditions were set by combining nonstimulation, frequency of vibration, and intensity of vibration. With MVC and PMT measured 3 times in each condition, the stimulation was applied randomly, with 3 minutes of break time after each trial.

2.5. Data Analysis

Based on the MVC value of nonstimulation conditions, increase and decrease of change rate of MVC value of vibration stimulation condition were analyzed. PMT was analyzed by the same method. In this study, we conducted statistical analysis on the result using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test of SPSS 18.0. The result was validated at the significance level of p < 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Change of Muscle Force according to the Characteristics of Vibration

The following is the results of MVC according to the vibration stimulation applied to the muscles of the lower leg through the Achilles tendon and the tibialis anterior tendon. Table 1 shows the increase rate of muscle force [%] when the vibration was applied on the Achilles tendon and the tibialis anterior tendon to stimulate triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle. The increase rate of muscle force [%] was obtained by comparing with the MVC data without stimulation.

Table 1

The increase rate of muscle force by vibration stimulation applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon [%].

	Soleus	Lateral Gastrocnemius	Medial Gastrocnemius	Tibialis anterior
Achilles tendon	10.01∗ ± 7.03	11.97∗ ± 7.12	14.52∗ ± 7.99	10.51∗ ± 7.02
Tibialis anterior tendon	6.53 ± 5.30	9.83 ± 6.43	9.34∗ ± 5.41	5.74 ± 5.75

p < 0.05. Nonstimulation versus stimulation.

Table 1 showed that the muscle force increased with the vibration stimulation for both the triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle compared without stimulation. The strength of both triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle significantly increased with the vibration applied on the Achilles tendon (Soleus p value = 0.022, Lateral Gastrocnemius p value = 0.049, Medial Gastrocnemius p value = 0.033, and tibialis anterior p value = 0.047). The strength of Medial Gastrocnemius muscle significantly increased with the vibration applied on the tibialis anterior tendon (Medial Gastrocnemius p value = 0.017). The strength of Soleus muscle, Lateral Gastrocnemius muscle, and tibialis anterior muscle increased compared to that without stimulation without showing statistical significance (Soleus p value = 0.678, Lateral Gastrocnemius p value = 0.102, and tibialis anterior p value = 0.221).

Figures 2(a) and 2(b) show the increase rate of muscle force [%] by the vibration frequency applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon.

Figure 2

The increase rate of muscle force by the vibration frequency applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon [%] (p < 0.05. 180 Hz versus 190 Hz). (a) Achilles tendon. (b) Tibialis anterior tendon.

The increase rate of muscle force was the greatest at 12% and 11% with the vibration frequency of 180 Hz and the smallest at 7% and 9% with the frequency of 190 Hz when the vibration was applied on the Soleus muscle and tibialis anterior muscle, respectively (Figure 2(a)). The increase rate of muscle force was the greatest at 15% and 17% with the vibration frequency of 180 Hz and the smallest at 9% and 13% with the frequency of 250 Hz when the vibration was applied on the Lateral Gastrocnemius muscle and Medial Gastrocnemius muscle, respectively. (Figure 2(b)) The increase rate of muscle force was the greatest at 9 and 7% with the vibration frequency of 180 Hz and the smallest at 4 and 5% with the frequency of 250 Hz when the vibration was applied on the Soleus muscle and tibialis anterior muscle, respectively. The increase rate of muscle force was the greatest at 14 and 13% with the vibration frequency of 180 Hz and the smallest at 6 and 6% with the frequency of 190 Hz when the vibration was applied on the Lateral Gastrocnemius muscle and Medial Gastrocnemius muscle, respectively. The increase rate of muscle force was the greatest at the frequency of 180 Hz (Figure 2(b) Lateral Gastrocnemius: 180 Hz–190 Hz p value = 0.007; Medial Gastrocnemius: 180 Hz–190 Hz p value = 0.019).

In Table 2, the increase rate of muscle force showed difference by the intensity of vibration, between the intensity of perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the Achilles tendon to stimulate triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle but the difference was not statistically significant.

Table 2

The increase rate of muscle force according to the intensity of vibration, perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the Achilles tendon [%].

			Lower leg muscles
			Soleus		Lateral Gastrocnemius		Medial Gastrocnemius		Tibialis anterior
			%	p value	%	p value	%	p value	%	p value
Achilles tendon	180 Hz	100%	16.04 ± 8.02	0.445	15.43 ± 7.71	0.386	16.25 ± 8.13	0.059	14.29 ± 7.15	0.241
		80%	6.58 ± 12.54		13.11 ± 12.99		10.37 ± 8.43		20.17 ± 17.89
	190 Hz	100%	17.18 ± 8.59	0.386	12.44 ± 6.22	0.285	18.31 ± 9.16	0.878	18.04 ± 9.02	0.333
		80%	10.9 ± 11.57		17.78 ± 15.3		14.3 ± 10.42		15.8 ± 17.58
	250 Hz	100%	8.37 ± 4.19	0.594	15.58 ± 7.79	0.285	14.65 ± 7.33	0.878	9.93 ± 4.97	0.139
		80%	14.78 ± 9.43		13.68 ± 19.92		13.5 ± 9.85		18.7 ± 11.39

In Table 3, the increase rate of muscle force showed difference by the intensity of vibration, between the intensity of perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the Achilles tendon to stimulate triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle but the difference was not statistically significant.

Table 3

The increase rate of muscle force according to the intensity of vibration, perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the tibialis anterior tendon [%].

			Lower leg muscles
			Soleus		Lateral Gastrocnemius		Medial Gastrocnemius		Tibialis anterior
			%	p value	%	p value	%	p value	%	p value
Tibialis anterior tendon	180 Hz	100%	7.14 ± 3.57	0.799	12.04 ± 6.02	0.386	12.22 ± 6.11	0.575	13.22 ± 6.61	0.878
		80%	9.06 ± 10.75		9.89 ± 7.76		11.06 ± 7.12		8.93 ± 6.52
	190 Hz	100%	11.84 ± 5.92	0.575	13.06 ± 6.53	0.646	10.04 ± 5.02	0.799	12.74 ± 6.37	0.959
		80%	6.23 ± 13.04		8.15 ± 14.61		5.72 ± 8.52		6.28 ± 5.99
	250 Hz	100%	12.48 ± 6.24	0.508	13.68 ± 6.84	0.386	10.11 ± 5.06	0.386	9.18 ± 4.59	0.114
		80%	5.82 ± 20.19		15.18 ± 19.52		7.63 ± 8.24		3.11 ± 6.86

3.2. Change in Muscle Reaction Time according to the Characteristics of Vibration

The following is the results of PMT according to the vibration applied to the muscles of the lower leg through the Achilles tendon and the tibialis anterior tendon. Table 4 shows the muscle reaction time [Sec] when the vibration was applied on the Achilles tendon and the tibialis anterior tendon to stimulate triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle. The increase rate of muscle force was obtained by comparing the PMT data without stimulation.

Table 4

The muscle reaction time by the vibration stimulation applied to the Achilles tendon and the tibialis anterior tendon [Sec].

	Soleus	Lateral Gastrocnemius	Medial Gastrocnemius	Tibialis anterior
Nonstimulation	0.285∗± 0.060	0.281∗± 0.060	0.262∗± 0.059	0.193∗± 0.072
Achilles tendon stimulation	0.199∗± 0.069	0.203∗± 0.072	0.188∗± 0.071	0.124∗± 0.069
Tibialis anterior tendon stimulation	0.196∗± 0.081	0.198∗± 0.087	0.187∗± 0.087	0.125∗± 0.079

p < 0.05. Nonstimulation versus stimulation.

Table 4 showed that the muscle reaction time decreased with the vibration stimulation for both the triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle compared with those without stimulation. The muscle reaction time of both triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle significantly decreased with the vibration applied on the Achilles tendon (Soleus p value = 0.005, Lateral Gastrocnemius p value = 0.009, Medial Gastrocnemius p value = 0.005, and Tibialis Anterior p value = 0.009). The muscle reaction time of both triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle significantly decreased with the vibration applied on the tibialis anterior tendon (Soleus p value = 0.005, Lateral Gastrocnemius p value = 0.013, Medial Gastrocnemius p value = 0.005, and tibialis anterior p value = 0.012).

Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the muscle reaction time [Sec] according to the vibration frequency applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon. The muscle reaction time was significantly shorter with the vibration stimulation on the Achilles tendon at 180 Hz frequency compared with that without stimulation (Figure 3(a)). Moreover, the muscle reaction time at the frequency of 180 Hz was the shortest compared with the other frequencies.

Figure 3

The muscle reaction time by the vibration stimulation applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon according to vibration frequency [Sec] (p < 0.05. nonstimulation versus other frequencies, p < 0.05. 180 Hz versus other frequencies). (a) Achilles tendon. (b) Tibialis anterior tendon.

In Table 5, the reaction time showed difference by the intensity of vibration, the intensity of perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the Achilles tendon to stimulate triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Table 5

The muscle reaction time according to the intensity of vibration, perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the Achilles tendon [Sec].

			Lower leg muscles
			Soleus		Lateral Gastrocnemius		Medial Gastrocnemius		Tibialis anterior
			Sec	p value	Sec	p value	Sec	p value	Sec	p value
Achilles tendon	180 Hz	100%	0.174 ± 0.038	0.123	0.182 ± 0.038	0.112	0.168 ± 0.037	0.085	0.124 ± 0.029	0.672
		80%	0.191 ± 0.038		0.194 ± 0.041		0.182 ± 0.039		0.124 ± 0.037
	190 Hz	100%	0.201 ± 0.026	0.905	0.205 ± 0.031	0.858	0.197 ± 0.029	0.406	0.122 ± 0.031	0.293
		80%	0.208 ± 0.036		0.210 ± 0.034		0.191 ± 0.035		0.115 ± 0.033
	250 Hz	100%	0.222 ± 0.035	0.176	0.226 ± 0.039	0.176	0.207 ± 0.035	0.236	0.128 ± 0.043	0.676
		80%	0.201 ± 0.033		0.201 ± 0.034		0.180 ± 0.038		0.132 ± 0.034

In Table 6, the reaction time showed difference by the intensity of vibration, the intensity of perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the Achilles tendon to stimulate triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Table 6

The muscle reaction time according to the intensity of vibration, perception threshold (100%) and subthreshold (80%) on the tibialis anterior tendon [Sec].

			Lower leg muscles
			Soleus		Lateral Gastrocnemius		Medial Gastrocnemius		Tibialis anterior
			Sec	p value	Sec	p value	Sec	p value	sec	p value
Tibialis anterior tendon	180 Hz	100%	0.171 ± 0.033	0.859	0.181 ± 0.036	0.574	0.170 ± 0.036	0.944	0.124 ± 0.036	0.071
		80%	0.204 ± 0.051		0.203 ± 0.052		0.189 ± 0.054		0.107 ± 0.028
	190 Hz	100%	0.188 ± 0.037	0.549	0.190 ± 0.045	0.513	0.188 ± 0.039	0.959	0.128 ± 0.049	0.302
		80%	0.191 ± 0.043		0.197 ± 0.046		0.191 ± 0.044		0.118 ± 0.038
	250 Hz	100%	0.191 ± 0.041	0.514	0.195 ± 0.043	0.476	0.178 ± 0.043	0.906	0.128 ± 0.040	0.291
		80%	0.203 ± 0.039		0.207 ± 0.039		0.188 ± 0.045		0.143 ± 0.047

4. Discussion

4.1. Change of Muscle Force according to the Characteristics of Vibration

This study analyzed the change of muscle force according to the characteristics of vibration using MVC. The muscle force significantly increased with the vibration stimulation compared to that without any stimulation. This result could be assumed that the vibration applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon improved the muscle force of the triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle which, in turn, improve the stability of the lower leg during gait. The vibration stimulation applied on the Achilles tendon rather than the tibialis anterior tendon proved to be more effective, which meant the vibration applied to the Achilles tendon had a greater effect on the muscle force increase. A vibration stimulation with different vibration frequency on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon was applied. The results showed that the vibration frequency of 180 Hz had the greatest increase of muscle force for both the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon. It could be assumed that the change of muscle force is dependent on the frequency from this result. The vibration stimulation with the intensity of perception threshold and subthreshold (80%) was applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon. The results showed that the increase rate of muscle force was different from the vibration intensity when the vibration stimulation was applied on the triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle via the Achilles tendon. The increase rate of muscle force was also different from the vibration intensity when the vibration stimulation was applied on the triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscle via the tibialis anterior tendon. However, the difference was not statistically significant for both the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon stimulation. This result means that the vibration with the intensity of perception threshold and subthreshold affects the muscle force at the same extent.

4.2. Change in Muscle Reaction Time according to the Characteristics of Vibration

The change on the muscle reaction time according to the characteristics of vibration was analyzed using PMT. The muscle reaction time significantly decreased with the vibration stimulation compared to that without any stimulation. From this result, the vibration stimulation applied to the muscles of the lower leg shortened the muscle reaction time from the sensory system, CNS to the muscular system. In other words, this result could be assumed that the efficiency in transmitting/processing nerve impulses improved. A vibration stimulation with different vibration frequency on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon was applied. The results showed that the muscle reaction time was significantly shorter at the frequency of 180 Hz for both the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon stimulation compared to those of other frequencies. It means that the reaction time is dependent on the vibration frequency. The vibration stimulation with the intensity of perception threshold and subthreshold (80%) was applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon. The results showed that the muscle reaction time was different from the intensity but statistically insignificant. The results mean that the vibration with the intensity of perception threshold and subthreshold equally affects the muscle reaction time.

5. Conclusion

This study investigated the effect of mechanical vibration stimulation applied on the Achilles tendon and tibialis anterior tendon according to the characteristics of vibration including the presence of vibration, frequency, and intensity on the muscles of the lower leg and the following results were obtained. The change of muscle force and muscle reaction time according to the characteristics of vibration showed that both improved with the vibration stimulation compared to those without any stimulation. The frequency of 180 Hz showed the best results and the changes of muscle force and reaction time were dependent on the vibration frequency. The effect of vibration with the intensity of perception threshold and subthreshold on the muscle force and muscle reaction time was the same. In conclusion, a local tendon stimulation using vibration of 180 Hz frequency and perception subthreshold intensity would improve the muscle force and muscle reaction time and contribute the stability of the lower leg during gait.