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To cite this article: Hideyuki Fukushima & Manabi Hinoki (1985) Role of the Cervical and
Lumbar Proprioceptors during Stepping, Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 98:sup419, 91-105, DOI:
10.1080/00016489.1985.12005659
Fukushima H, Hinoki M. Role of the cervical and lumbar proprioceptors during stepping:
An electromyographic study of the muscular activities of the lower limbs. Acta Otolaryn-
gol (Stockh) 1985; Suppl. 419:91-105.
To obtain evidence of the role of the cervical and lumbar proprioceptors during stepping,
the following investigations were carried out. I) 10 normal, healthy subjects and vertigi-
nous patients, particularly those with lumbar pain, were examined. 2) Fukuda's stepping
test was first carried out, followed by two modified stepping tests, i.e., stepping after fixing
the waist with a corset and after fixing the neck with a collar. 3) Electromyograms (EMGs)
of the gastrocnemius muscles of the extensor of the lower limbs were analysed as regards
the foot contact with the ground. The following results were obtained. In the original way
of Fukuda's stepping test, normal subjects tended to show EMG discharges from the
gastrocnemius muscles before foot contact with the ground, whereas in the modified
stepping tests, the generation of EMG discharges was delayed, especially in the test
requiring fixing of the Waist with a corset. The results of these stepping tests were reversed
in the vertiginous patients, particularly in those with lumbar pain. We conclude that the
lumbar proprioceptors participate especially in the smooth performance of stepping by
promoting the anticipatory activity of the extensor of the lower limbs. Key words:
Fukuda's stepping test, modified stepping test, anticipatory activity.
H. Fukushima, Department of Otolaryngology, Shizuoka City Hospital, 10-93 Ohtemachi,
Shizuoka, 420 Japan.
Walking, a basic movement in daily life, is closely related with dynamic equilibrium in
humans. The centre of gravity is higher in humans than in many animals and moreover,
stepping or walking in humans consists of alternating, continuous repetition of standing on
one leg. Since this method of locomotion is unstable from the standpoint of body equilibri-
um, various equilibrium reflexes must come into play in order to achieve smooth perfor-
mance of this motion.
In tests on normal, healthy adults, Kitahara & Matsubara (l) reported that during
stepping in Fukuda's test the head inclined slightly to the right when the right foot was set
down and the left foot was lifted, and vice versa. They explained this finding on the basis
of the tonic neck and the tonic labyrinthine reflexes. We devised a new apparatus, called
the drift meter, with which we could record side to side and back-and-forth movements of
the head as an angular deviation of the head from the upright position. With this apparatus,
we investigated the relationship between movements of the head and the feet during
stepping. In a series of examinations we noted the following facts. l) Movements of the
head and the feet during stepping were correlated. This correlation could be explained on
the basis of the tonic neck reflex. 2) A rebound phenomenon was elicited in the move-
ments of the head during stepping. This phenomenon seemed to be helpful in reinforcing
the tonic neck reflex, and led to a smooth performance of stepping (2).
Tokizane et a!. (3) reported that walking or stepping was significantly influenced by the
tonic lumbar reflex elicited from the lumbar proprioceptors and which controlled the
muscle tone of the four limbs in the formation of static and dynamic postural reflexes.
Earlier, we reported that the lumbar proprioceptors were coordinated with the cervical
92 H. Fukushima and M. Hinoki
metal plate was fixed to the surface of the anterior part of the sole of each foot and
subjects were instructed to perform stepping on the 2-metre-square iron plate on the
ground. When the sole of one foot touched the plate, an electric current was triggered and
recorded as an on-signal. When the sole of one foot left the ground, the current was broken
and was recorded as the off-signal (Fig. l). In the following figures, the on-signal is
expressed by an upward movement of the pen, and the off-signal as a downward move-
ment.
The EMGs were compared in the two conditions, i.e., with and without a corset,
particularly with reference to the correlation between the onset of the EMGs of the
gastrocnemius and the moment the foot contacted the ground plate during stepping. The
reason why the EMG from the gastrocnemius was especially analysed in this investigation
was that this muscle belongs to the extensors of the lower limbs and consequently it
supports the weight of the whole body throughout stepping. With reference to the above-
mentioned correlation, generation of the EMGs from the gastrocnemius muscles was
classified into the following three patterns: Preceding (P), Simultaneous (S), and Delayed
(D). In P, Sand D, the EMGs showed the preceding, simultaneous, and delalyed genera-
tion in relation to the moment the foot contacts the ground. Thus, EMG discharges starting
more than 40 msec before foot contact were counted as P pattern and those delayed by
more than 40 msec after foot contact were counted as D pattern. EMG discharges starting
within 40 msec before or after foot contact were therefore counted as S pattern (Fig. 2).
of the foot r
On and off sognals - - . . , ' - - - - -
--,'-----~
'
EMGs of the
gastrocnem•us
Fig. 2. Scheme of the correlation between the onset of the EMGs of the gastrocnemius and the moment when the
foot touches the ground during stepping.
94 H. Fukushima and M. Hinoki
RESULTS
I. Investigation 1 a
(a) Representative case. Fig. 3 shows the EMGs from the gastrocnemius on the right side
of a 36-year-old healthy man. These EMGs were recorded before and after fixing the waist
with a corset. This man showed a Type A EMG, which did not alter significantly after
fixing the waist with a corset. However, through the above-mentioned procedure, the
correlation between the onset of EMG discharge of the gastrocnemius and the moment of
contact of the right foot with the ground altered, showing a significant reduction in
generation of P pattern and frrst signs of a developing D pattern. The bar graphs (lower
part of Fig. 3) show the distribution of P, S and D patterns generated in all the EMG
discharges of the gastrocnemius muscles on the two sides during stepping. Fig. 3 shows
Role of cervical & lumbar proprioceptors during stepping 95
Fig. 3. EMGs from the gastrocnemius on the right side of a 36-year-old normal man and bar graphs of distribution of
P, S and D patterns of EMG discharges of bilateral gastrocnemius muscles generated throughout the period of
stepping before and after fixing the waist with a corset.
· -. ··-tiL JL JL lk l
PSO PSO PSO PSO PSO PSO
JL l JL l
PSD PSD PSO PSO
"
. . . . ~UiJL !_ 1_ JL l
PSO
ll>.l
PSO
lt>.1
PSO
1111..)
PSO
IIID.4
PSO
MD.!t
PSO
Ma.6
Al1L l
PSO
ta..J
PSO
No.I
PSO
MD.9
PSO
~10
Fig. 4. Bar graphs of distribution of P, Sand D patterns generated in 10 normal subjects before and after fixing the
waist with a corset.
96 H. Fukushima and M. Hinoki
P S D P S D
Fig. 5. EMGs from gastrocnemius on right side of a 68-year-old man with head and neck injury. Bar graphs of
distribution of P, Sand D patterns generated before and after fixing the waist with a corset.
corset, with regard to the distribution of development of three EMG patterns. As a result
of this test, we noted that the above-mentioned difference was statistically significant in P
and S patterns (p<O.Ol). Thus, the change could be regarded as definite in P and S
patterns.
2. Investigation 1 b
(a) Representative case. Fig. 5 shows EMGs from the gastrocnemius on the right side of a
68-year-old man, recorded before and after fixing the waist with a corset. This man
developed vertiginous attacks and cervical and lumbar pain after head and neck injury.
Equilibrium and neurological examinations revealed an impaired labyrinthine function on
both sides and hypertonicity of the cervical and lumbar soft supporting tissues. After
fixing the waist with a corset, particularly vertigo and lumbar pain were significantly
Patterns of EMGs
Change in development
Subjects of EMG patterns P pattern S pattern D pattern
" These subjects did not develop a D pattern either before or after fixing the waist with a corset.
Role of cervical & lumbar proprioceptors during stepping 91
80
60
without a corset 40
20
P 5 D
lLJL_h_
P 5 D P 5 D P 5 D
80
60
with a corset 40
20
P 5 D P 5 D P 5 D P 5 D
Fig. 6. Bar graphs of distribution of P, S and D patterns generated in 4 vertiginous patients before and
after fixing the waist with a corset.
ameliorated. This was evident from the fact that after the corset procedure, his stepping
altered in nature, showing a significant decrease in ataxic features. Furthermore, as shown
in the upper part of this figure, generation of the S pattern increased, whereas the D
pattern disappeared after waist fixation. The bar graphs (lower part of Fig. 5) show the
distribution of P, S and D generation patterns in all the EMG discharges of the gastrocne-
mius muscles on both sides during stepping. These bar graphs show that the development
of P pattern increased markedly, whereas D pattern decreased following the corset
procedure. S pattern showed no significant change.
(b) Overall results in all cases. Fig. 6 and Table II show the distribution of P, Sand D
generation patterns in the 4 vertiginous patients. From these, we found that the P pattern
tended to increase, whereas the D pattern decreased and/or disappeared after fixing the
waist with a corset. No definite tendency was observed with regard to S pattern genera-
tion.
Patterns of EMGs
Change in development of
EMG patterns P pattern S pattern D pattern
Increase or appearance 2 2 0
Unchanged I 0 Ia
Decrease or disappearance I 2 3
Total 4 4 4
a This subject did not develop a D pattern either before or after fiXing the waist with a corset.
7-848420
98 H. Fukushima and M. Hinoki
P 5 D P 5 D
Fig. 7. EMGs from gastrocnemius on right side of a 36-year-old normal man. Bar graphs of distribution ofP, Sand D
patterns generated before and after fixing the neck with a collar.
3. Investigation 11
(a) Representative case. Fig. 7 shows EMGs from the right side gastrocnemius muscle of a
36-year-old nonnal man (same subject as illustrated in Fig. 3). Neither abnormal deviation
nor ataxic features in stepping were observed after fixing the neck with a collar. However,
the above-mentioned procedure altered the correlation between the onset of the EMG
discharge of the gastrocnemius and the moment the right foot touched the ground, showing
a reduced generation of P pattern and first signs of the development of D pattern. The bar
graphs of distribution of development of P, S and D patterns (lower part of Fig. 7) show
that P pattern generation decreased, whereas that of S pattern increased. Furthennore, D
pattern first developed after the collar procdure. This tendency was similar to that after
fixing the waist with a corset, though the decrease in P pattern and development of D
pattern was less obvious with a collar than with a corset (cf. Fig. 3).
(b) Overall results in all cases. Table III shows the change in P, S and D generation
patterns in 7 nonnal, healthy subjects, after fixing the neck with a collar. In these subjects,
there was a tendency for the development of P pattern to decrease, whereas the S pattern
increased after fixing the neck with a collar. Furthennore, in 4 of the 7 subjects, D pattern
first developed after the collar procedure, although one subject showed complete disap-
pearance of this pattern.
Table III. Change in development of P, S and D patterns in the EMGs of normal, healthy
subjects after .fu:ing the neck with a collar
Patterns of EMGs
Change in development
Subjects of EMG patterns P pattern S pattern D pattern
" This subject did not develop aD pattern either before of after fiXing the neck with a collar.
Role of cervical & lumbar proprioceptors during stepping 99
80
80
60
60
40 40
40
20 20
20
P 5 D P 5 D P 5 D
As the result of the t-test used, we found no definite statistical difference in results of
testing with vs. without the collar, with regard to development ofthe three patterns in the
EMGs during stepping. Thus, the resulting change in the development of the three patterns
due to fixation of the neck was considered not to be so definite as that due to fixation of
the waist.
4. Comparison between the two conditions, i.e., neck and waist fuation,
with regard to the resulting change in development of the three EMG patterns
during stepping
Fig. 8 shows the bar graphs of distribution of development of P, S and D patterns in the
EMGs of a 36-year-old normal, healthy man, calculated from the results of stepping before
and after fixing the neck and waist. As shown, there was a similarity between the two
types of stepping, with regard to the resulting change in the three above-mentioned
patterns in the EMGs. However, the decrease in P pattern and the development of D
pattern were more obvious in the case of fixation of the waist than in that of the neck.
Fig. 9 and Table IV show the overall results in all cases. Similar findings were observed
except in case 3 between the two above-mentioned two types of stepping, with regard to
the resulting change in the development of P and S patterns. However, development of D
pattern was more marked in the case of fixation of the waist than in that of the neck.
DISCUSSION
I. Physiological implication of the development of three types of EMG
(P, S and D patterns), particularly of the P pattern, during stepping
We have reported earlier that the neck and lumbar proprioceptors control the muscle tone
of the lower limbs via the tonic neck and lumbar reflexes, thus accomplishing a smooth
performance of stepping (2). In the present examination, we found that these receptors
participate in the smooth performance of stepping by promoting the anticipatory activities
of the extensores of the lower limbs. In other words, in normal human subjects, the
gastrocnemius muscles tended to produce preceding EMG discharges (P pattern) in
relation to the moment of contact of the foot with the ground during stepping, which led to
the induction of adequate activities of the lower limb extensors sufficient to support the
weight of the whole body with one leg. Naturally, these muscles also developed simulta-
neous EMGs in relation to the above-mentioned moment and thus an S pattern was
induced. However, the S pattern was significantly less common than the P pattern. EMG
100 H. Fukushima and M. Hinoki
JL JL Ll l jl_
80
60
without
40
20
80
1L 1L l JL l !
60
with a corset
40
'?C
JL l 1L iL l JL
80
60
with a collar
40
20
Fig. 9. Bar graphs of distribution of P, Sand D patterns generated in 7 normal subjects, before and
after fixing both waist and neck.
discharges, which appeared with a delay after contact of the foot with the ground, viz. D
pattern., were seen in only one out of 10 subjects examined.
In order to carry out rhythmic movements, subjects are requested to predict the possible
situation of the movements and to promote the anticipatory activity of the eye muscles, of
the trunk and limbs, adequate for such movements. The above-mentioned results in the
present examination are considered to exemplify this postulation.
Engberg & Lundberg (6) reported that when unrestrained cats walked, the electromyo-
graphic activity in many hindlimb muscles was correlated with the angular movements in
Table IV. Comparison between results from two types of stepping, viz. stepping with a collar and/or a
corset, with regard to development of P, S and D patterns in the EMGs of normal, healthy subjects
Patterns of EMGs
a These subjects did not develop a D pattern either before or after fixing the neck and/or the waist.
Role of cervical & lumbar proprioceptors during stepping 101
the hip, knee and ankle joint. Furthermore, the activity is fairly uniform in all the extensor
muscles but differs between individual functional groups of the flexor muscles.
These results are instructive in understanding the possible presence of a correlation
between the lumbar proprioceptors and the activity of the lower limb extensors during
stepping. Furthermore, Lundberg (7) reported that when unrestrained cats walk, the
EMGs from the extensors of the hip, knee and ankle appeared just before (100 msec) the
contact of the feet with the ground and moreover, this phenomenon developed constantly,
not depending on the speed of walking and/or running. Thus, the above-mentioned
phenomenon is not attributed to the stretch reflex which is induced by stimulation of the
receptors of the muscles and the skin due to the contact of the feet with the ground. Hence
he assumed that the above-mentioned action of the extensors is due to a centrally
programmed alternating activation of the extensors and flexors.
Udo (8) put forward a similar postulation in which he stated that this EMG phenomenon
can be explained by the following mechanism. The phenomenon is fundamentally due to
centrally programmed alternating activation of the extensors and flexors, produced in the
rhythmic centre in the spinal cord and moreover, probably modified by the spinal reflexes
occurring in six muscles including the extensors and flexors of each leg during stepping.
Grillner (9) found that during walking, cats had a considerably increased tone in the
gastrocnemius muscles at the moment when the hindlimb touched the ground. From this,
he deduced that this phenomenon cannot be attributed to the stretch reflex of the hindlimb
muscles, since any alteration in muscle tone could be manifested first several microse-
conds after alteration in the volleys from the motoneurons of the muscles. The results
reported by Lundberg (7), Udo (8) and Grillner (9) were obtained in cats. Therefore,
results in the present examination using humans may not be directly comparable with
those obtained with quadrupeds. Stability of the body when walking or stepping is
significantly less sure in humans than in animals, since in humans the centre of gravity is
higher and the area of support for the soles, related to the body's stability, is significantly
less. Accordingly, activation of the anticipatory activity of the extensor muscles (the
gastrocnemius) is more crucial in humans than in quadrupeds, as regards maintenance of
dynamic equilibrium, such as in stepping. Thus, the fact that in many normal, healthy
subjects, the development of P pattern was far more common than other EMG patterns
can be reasonably explained from the standpoint of the body's equilibrium. Furthermore,
the above-mentioned results seem valuable, since in humans, systematic investigations
have not hitherto been carried out on this problem.
when wearing a corset than when wearing a collar. That is, the resulting change in the
generation of P and S patterns during stepping with a corset was statistically significant
when tested with the t-test. By gross observation, a similar tendency was observed with
regard to the resulting change in generation of P, S and D patterns during stepping with a
collar (Table III). However, by using the t-test, this alteration was found to be not so
marked as in the case of stepping with a corset. Furthermore, the D pattern was more
common when wearing a corset than when wearing a collar (Table IV). These results lead
to postulation that a more important role may be played by the lumbar proprioceptors than
by the cervical proprioceptors, with regard to performance of stepping. These results also
support the postulation proposed by Lundberg (7) and Udo (8), since they stated that the
rhythmic centre of the hindlimbs related to walking is located in the lumbar cord.
Furthermore, it is compatible with the postulation of Tokizane et a!. (3), since they
reported that the lumbar proprioceptors control particularly the muscle tone of the lower
limbs via the tonic lumbar reflex, resulting in smooth stepping. The postulation that the
activity of the lumbar proprioceptors probably correlates with generation of the three
EMG patterns, particularly of the P pattern, is also supported by the following. We
examined vertiginous patients with pain and/or stiffness of the waist by observing the
resulting change in development of the three EMG patterns (P, S and D) during stepping
with a corset. In this examination, we noted that the P pattern increased, whereas the D
pattern decreased after the above-mentioned procedure. It is worth noting that quite the
opposite tendency was observed between normal subjects and vertiginous patients with
pain and/or stiffness of the waist, with regard to the resulting change in generation of P and
D patterns in the EMGs. These results also support the postulation mentioned above.
lumbar proprioceptors and/or that of the rhythmic centre related to stepping in these
subjects. However, the fact that results obtained in the subjects with Type C EMGs was
between those of normal, healthy subjects with Types A and B and vertiginous patients
with pain and/or stiffness of the lumbar region is worthy of consideration.
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Role of cervical & lumbar proprioceptors during stepping 105
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