Vestibular and neck somatosensory weighting changes with trunk extensor muscle fatigue during quiet standing

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether vestibular and neck somatosensory weighting could change in conditions of trunk extensor muscle fatigue during quiet standing. To achieve this goal, 20 young healthy adults were asked to stand as still as possible in two conditions of No fatigue and Fatigue of trunk extensor muscles. In Experiment 1 (n = 10), the postural task was executed in two head conditions: Neutral and Head tilted backwards, recognised to degrade vestibular and neck somatosensory information. In Experiment 2 (n = 10), the postural task was executed in two stimulation conditions: No tactile stimulation and Tactile stimulation of the neck provided by the application of strips of adhesive bandage to the skin over and around the neck. The centre of foot pressure displacements (CoP) were recorded using a force platform. Results showed that (1) trunk extensor muscles fatigue increased CoP displacements under normal vestibular and neck somatosensatory conditions (Experiments 1 and 2), (2) this destabilizing effect of fatigue was exacerbated when vestibular and neck somatosensory information was altered (Experiment 1) and (3) this destabilizing effect of fatigue was suppressed when neck somatosensory information was neck was facilitated (Experiment 2). Taken together, results of Experiments 1 and 2 could be interpreted as an up-weighting of vestibular and neck somatosensory information for controlling posture during quiet standing following trunk extensor muscles fatigue.