Abstract - Comparison of sense of wrist joint position between aikidokas and healthy people
Background. Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido techniques include throwing, falls and joint locks. The wrist joint usually undergoes extreme ranges of flexion and extension in aikido. There is scant evidence about the correlation between proprioception and muscle strength in wrist joints.
Problem and aim. The objective of this study was to compare wrist joint position sense (JPS) between aikidokas and healthy people and to evaluate the correlation between JPS and isokinetic strength of wrist muscles.
Methods. Thirty one aikidokas and 31 healthy people participated in this cross-sectional study. Active and passive JPS were assessed at 35˚ and 60˚ of wrist flexion and extension in both hands. The isokinetic strength of wrist flexors and extensors was assessed at an angular velocity of 90˚/sec.
Results. No significant difference was observed in wrist JPS between the groups. Average peak torque of wrist extension was significantly higher in aikidokas than the control group on the dominant side (P=0.03). Angle to peak torque was achieved sooner in aikidokas (P=0.01). Total work in extension (P=0.03) and average power of flexion (P=0.02) and extension (P=0.03) were significantly higher on the non-dominant side in aikidokas. No acceptable correlation was detected between JPS and isokinetic strength in aikidokas.
Conclusions. Despite the overstraining applied to the wrist, JPS was not impaired in aikidokas. Although we did not observe an acceptable correlation between JPS and muscle strength in aikidokas, some factors like higher peak torque, total work, and power might have supported wrist complex and prevented proprioception impairment in aikidokas.