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. 2023 Feb 22:17:1112232.
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1112232. eCollection 2023.

Plastic changes induced by muscle focal vibration: A possible mechanism for long-term motor improvements

Guido M Filippi  1   2 , Angelo Rodio  3 , Luigi Fattorini  4 , Mario Faralli  5 , Giampietro Ricci  5 , Vito E Pettorossi  6
Affiliations

Plastic changes induced by muscle focal vibration: A possible mechanism for long-term motor improvements

Guido M Filippi et al. Front Neurosci. .

Abstract

Repetitive focal vibrations can induce positive and persistent after-effects. There is still no satisfactory interpretation of the underlying mechanisms. A rationale, which can provide consistency among different results, is highly desirable to guide both the use of the application and future research. To date, interpretive models are formulated to justify the results, depending on the specific protocol adopted. Indeed, protocol parameters, such as stimulus intensity and frequency, intervention time and administration period, are variable among different studies. However, in this article, we have identified features of the protocols that may allow us to suggest a possible common mechanism underlying the effectiveness of focal vibration under different physiologic and pathologic conditions. Since repetitive focal muscle vibration induces powerful and prolonged activation of muscle proprioceptors, we hypothesize that this intense activation generates adaptive synaptic changes along sensory and motor circuits. This may lead to long-term synaptic potentiation in the central network, inducing an enhancement of the learning capability. The plastic event could increase proprioceptive discriminative ability and accuracy of the spatial reference frame and, consequently, improve motor planning and execution for different motor functions and in the presence of different motor dysfunctions. The proposed mechanism may explain the surprising and sometimes particularly rapid improvements in motor execution in healthy and diseased individuals, regardless of specific physical training. This hypothetic mechanism may require experimental evidence and could lead to extend and adapt the application of the "learning without training" paradigms to other functional and recovery needs.

Keywords: long-term potentiation; motor cortex; physical exercise; proprioception; rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of repeated focal vibration (RFV) after-effects on nervous excitability. The suggested cascade of functional implications is illustrated.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The proposed repeated focal vibration (RFV) synaptic changes and the reported effects on the sensory system. The possible increase of the motion perception and the improvement of the internal and external reference system might favor motor planning and execution.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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