Ipsilateral vs Contralateral Presentation of Familiarization Trials in a Lower-Limb Proprioception Test

Abstract

We examined the effect of pretest familiarization with ipsilateral or contralateral limbs on the performance in a proprioception test conducted afterwards. Sixty adults were randomly assigned to six different familiarization-session patterns. Ankle proprioception was tested using active movement extent discrimination assessment. The results reflected a beneficial effect of familiarization session on performance in the subsequent proprioception test (ES = 0.777). However, no significant difference was found between proprioceptive acuity scores when familiarization and test happened with either ipsilateral or contralateral limbs (ES= 0.361), or between the tested left and right foot no matter which side was familiarized (ES = 0.343). These results suggest that proprioceptive information from the familiarization session facilitates the subsequent proprioception test and is equally available to both hemispheres without loss of quality.

Keywords:

• ipsilateral
• contralateral
• ankle
• proprioception

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

DATA

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, NY, upon reasonable request.