The effects of wrist muscle vibration on human voluntary elbow flexion-extension movements

Abstract

The effect of forearm muscle tendon vibration during alternating step flexion-extension movements about the elbow was studied in normal humans. In one experiment, a vibrator was mounted over either the forearm flexor or the extensor muscle. In a second experiment, a vibrator was mounted over either the forearm muscle or the biceps muscle. In both experiments, vibration was applied either to a single muscle or simultaneously to both muscles during elbow flexion-extension movements. After a period of practice, subjects learned the required movements and were able to make them with their eyes closed. Application of vibration to the forearm and the biceps muscle during extension movements produced an undershoot of the required end-movement position. Moreover, application of high-frequency vibration (100 Hz) to the forearm extensor and flexor muscle produced an overshoot of the required end-movement position. The observed results are consistent with vibration induced activation of muscle spindle receptors not only in the lengthening muscle during movement but also in the forearm muscles. It is suggested that the pattern of distribution of muscle spindle afferent from the forearm muscle onto alpha-motoneurons of muscles acting at the elbow has played an important role of alternating step flexion-extension movements.