Cutaneous stimulation at the ankle: a differential effect on proprioceptive postural control according to the participants' preferred sensory strategy

Background Ankle movements can be partially encoded by cutaneous afferents. However, little is known about the central integration of these cutaneous signals, and whether individual differences exist in this integration. The aim of this study was to determine whether the effect of cutaneous stimulation at the ankle would differ depending on the participants' preferred sensory strategy appraised by relative proprioceptive weighting (RPw). Methods Forty‐seven active young individuals free of lower‐limb injury stood on a force platform either barefoot or wearing a custom‐designed bootee. Vibrations (60 Hz, 0.5 mm) were applied either to the peroneal tendons or to the lumbar paraspinal muscles. Results The barefoot RPw was strongly negatively correlated to the absolute change in RPw measured in the bootee condition (r = −0.81, P