Leah Bent

The ageing foot: how does skin feedback change as we grow old?

This entry was posted in Invited Contributor Motor Impairment Blog New finding Sensation & falls and tagged age balance clearance elderly falls foot gait older adults skin touch trip walking on by

Historically, research on skin’s role in postural stability has focused on the sole of the foot, as this area is in contact with the ground as we stand and move. Special receptors from the sole of the foot provide information about contact pressure and slips of the foot (Kennedy & […]

Skin at the back of the ankle contributes to awareness of ankle position 1

This entry was posted in Invited Contributor Motor Impairment Blog New finding Sensation & falls and tagged ankle balance foot proprioception receptors skin on by

The ability to know how our limbs are positioned in space is called proprioception. This ‘sense’ is possible through information gained from individual sensors in the muscles and in the skin. In fact, skin stretch on the back or dorsal surface of the hand has been shown to create illusory […]