Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation?
Abstract In humans, plantar cutaneous mechanoreceptors provide critical input signals for postural control during walking and running. Because these receptors are located within the dermis, the mechanical properties of the overlying epidermis likely affect the transmission of external stimuli. Epide...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Physiological Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15479 |
| _version_ | 1797397110114484224 |
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| author | Bert Wynands Claudio Zippenfennig Nicholas B. Holowka Daniel E. Lieberman Thomas L. Milani |
| author_facet | Bert Wynands Claudio Zippenfennig Nicholas B. Holowka Daniel E. Lieberman Thomas L. Milani |
| author_sort | Bert Wynands |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In humans, plantar cutaneous mechanoreceptors provide critical input signals for postural control during walking and running. Because these receptors are located within the dermis, the mechanical properties of the overlying epidermis likely affect the transmission of external stimuli. Epidermal layers are highly adaptable and can form hard and thick protective calluses, but their effects on plantar sensitivity are currently disputed. Some research has shown no effect of epidermal properties on sensitivity to vibrations, whereas other research suggests that vibration and touch sensitivity diminishes with a thicker and harder epidermis. To address this conflict, we conducted an intervention study where 26 participants underwent a callus abrasion while an age‐matched control group (n = 16) received no treatment. Skin hardness and thickness as well as vibration perception thresholds and touch sensitivity thresholds were collected before and after the intervention. The Callus abrasion significantly decreased skin properties. The intervention group exhibited no change in vibration sensitivity but had significantly better touch sensitivity. We argue that touch sensitivity was impeded by calluses because hard skin disperses the monofilament's standardized pressure used to stimulate the mechanoreceptors over a larger area, decreasing indentation depth and therefore stimulus intensity. However, vibration sensitivity was unaffected because the vibrating probe was adjusted to reach specific indentation depths, and thus stimulus intensity was not affected by skin properties. Since objects underfoot necessarily indent plantar skin during weight‐bearing, calluses should not affect mechanosensation during standing, walking, or running. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:05:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc6ced1823ab4a47828d174cb2df16cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-817X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:05:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physiological Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc6ced1823ab4a47828d174cb2df16cb2023-12-11T10:47:16ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2022-10-011020n/an/a10.14814/phy2.15479Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation?Bert Wynands0Claudio Zippenfennig1Nicholas B. Holowka2Daniel E. Lieberman3Thomas L. Milani4Department of Human Locomotion, Institute of Human Movement Science and Health Chemnitz University of Technology Chemnitz GermanyDepartment of Human Locomotion, Institute of Human Movement Science and Health Chemnitz University of Technology Chemnitz GermanyDepartment of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences University at Buffalo Buffalo New York USADepartment of Human Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USADepartment of Human Locomotion, Institute of Human Movement Science and Health Chemnitz University of Technology Chemnitz GermanyAbstract In humans, plantar cutaneous mechanoreceptors provide critical input signals for postural control during walking and running. Because these receptors are located within the dermis, the mechanical properties of the overlying epidermis likely affect the transmission of external stimuli. Epidermal layers are highly adaptable and can form hard and thick protective calluses, but their effects on plantar sensitivity are currently disputed. Some research has shown no effect of epidermal properties on sensitivity to vibrations, whereas other research suggests that vibration and touch sensitivity diminishes with a thicker and harder epidermis. To address this conflict, we conducted an intervention study where 26 participants underwent a callus abrasion while an age‐matched control group (n = 16) received no treatment. Skin hardness and thickness as well as vibration perception thresholds and touch sensitivity thresholds were collected before and after the intervention. The Callus abrasion significantly decreased skin properties. The intervention group exhibited no change in vibration sensitivity but had significantly better touch sensitivity. We argue that touch sensitivity was impeded by calluses because hard skin disperses the monofilament's standardized pressure used to stimulate the mechanoreceptors over a larger area, decreasing indentation depth and therefore stimulus intensity. However, vibration sensitivity was unaffected because the vibrating probe was adjusted to reach specific indentation depths, and thus stimulus intensity was not affected by skin properties. Since objects underfoot necessarily indent plantar skin during weight‐bearing, calluses should not affect mechanosensation during standing, walking, or running.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15479calluscutaneous mechanoreceptorsmonofilamentsplantar sensitivityskin propertiesvibration thresholds |
| spellingShingle | Bert Wynands Claudio Zippenfennig Nicholas B. Holowka Daniel E. Lieberman Thomas L. Milani Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation? Physiological Reports callus cutaneous mechanoreceptors monofilaments plantar sensitivity skin properties vibration thresholds |
| title | Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation? |
| title_full | Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation? |
| title_fullStr | Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation? |
| title_short | Does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation? |
| title_sort | does plantar skin abrasion affect cutaneous mechanosensation |
| topic | callus cutaneous mechanoreceptors monofilaments plantar sensitivity skin properties vibration thresholds |
| url | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15479 |
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