Human Elbow Joint Motion Change Induced by Tonic Vibration Reflex with Vibration Stimulation

Vibration stimulation on an antagonist muscle can make human joint motion different from his/her intended motion. This motion change is supposed to be generated by the kinesthetic illusion and/or tonic vibration reflex which is induced by vibration stimulation. In this study, the effect of vibration stimulation on an agonist muscle to human elbow joint flexion motion change was investigated. Vibration stimulation was given to biceps brachii during elbow joint flexion motion in the experiment of this study. The three different frequencies of vibration stimulation were given to the muscle in each trial. The elbow joint motion change from the intended elbow joint motion of the experimental participant was measured by the method of psychophysical experiment. The experimental results suggest that the tonic vibration reflex can induce elbow joint flexion motion change. Furthermore, the amount of elbow joint motion change increased with increasing the frequency of vibration stimulation. In some experimental participant, motion inhibitory effect of vibration stimulation was observed during elbow joint flexion motion. These experimental results indicate that the elbow joint flexion motion change can be generated. The motion change induced by the vibration stimulation on an agonist muscle may be used in the upper limb perception-assist.