Plantar pressure receptors and body sway in cases of spino-cerebellar degeneration

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Abstract
For humans to maintain an upright posture, the proprioceptive organ is most important. However, the role of the plantar pressure receptors in control of body sway is not well recognized. We prepared a special device of plates having various pressure points for stimulation of plantars, and observed variation in the body sway in response to the stimulation given to the mechanoreceptors of the plantar in normal subjects using a gravicorder. The results concerning body sway were a reduction in square area, total shifting length and velocity, all of which are attributed to an increase input of information from plantar pressure receptors.Utilizing plantar mechanoreceptor stimulation on control of body sway, the sway of patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (Olivopontocerebellar degeneration 6 cases, late onset corticocerebellar degeneration 3 cases, Marie's disease 7 cases.) were comparatively studied.A 13mm wire netting was used for the plantar stimulation. Depending on the type of disease, we found that the square area was either enlarged, the same or reduced. However, the velocity of sway or total shifting length was either slower or decreased. These phenomena were particularly obvious in late onset corticocerebellar degeneration and olivopontocerebellar degeneration groups, thus revealing the contribution of the plantar input information in the control system of body sway. This suggests that increase of information from mechanoreceptors may play a role is improvement of body sway coordination.

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