Effects of Peripheral Somatosensory Stimulation Via Mechanical Pressure on Lower Limb Muscle Strength in Healthy Subjects.

Objective: To determine whether the application of a peripheral proprioceptive stimulus to the neuromuscular motor points of the quadriceps increases strength and neuromuscular activation during the squat movement in the lower limbs of healthy, untrained subjects.

Methods: The design of this study is a randomized crossover clinical trial. All participants (n=36) will randomly receive both the Active and Sham proprioceptive stimulation.The proprioceptive stimulus will consist of intermittent mechanical pressure on the skin, localized at the neuromuscular motor points of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis of the quadriceps. The tissue subjected to precise pressure in these highly innervated neuromuscular zones promotes the stimulation of kinesthetic cortical sensitivity. The outcome variable will be the assessment of Maximum Strength (MS) generated by the participant during the squat movement, from a 90º knee flexion position to full extension. At the moment of peak force, the mean velocity (MV) of the concentric phase of the movement and the maximum load the participant can move will be evaluated. The intervention, assessment, and recruitment will take place at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Blanquerna - Ramon Llull University

Inclusion criteria

• State of health with no history of neuromuscular injuries
• Without surgical interventions, or lower limb trauma in the last six months
• No associated cardiovascular disease
• No associated severe COPD.
• AllParticipants are considered untrained if they do not engage in any specific vigorous lower-limb strength training or regularly perform physical exercise or sports activities.