Interplay between Different Types of Mechanoreceptors

Interplay between Different Types of Mechanoreceptors

Fast-adapting Mechanoreceptors:

Fast-adapting mechanoreceptors, which include Pacinian corpuscles and Meissner’s corpuscles, are quick to respond to changes in stimuli but also quick to stop responding if the stimuli remain constant. In essence, they’re like alert watchdogs that quickly notify the brain when something new is happening.

  1. Pacinian Corpuscles: They’re particularly sensitive to high-frequency vibrations (around 250 Hz). Located deep in the skin and also in various internal tissues, they’re the ones that let you feel the buzzing vibration of a phone in your pocket. In the context of vibration therapy, Pacinian corpuscles could quickly inform the central nervous system (CNS) about the onset of vibrations, contributing to immediate reflex responses such as muscle contraction or relaxation.
  2. Meissner’s Corpuscles: Found in areas with hairless skin (like your fingertips), these mechanoreceptors are more sensitive to lower-frequency vibrations (about 50 Hz) and light touch. They help with tasks such as gripping objects, and in a therapeutic setting, they could contribute to the initial sensory perception of the vibration stimulus.

Slow-adapting Mechanoreceptors:

On the other hand, slow-adapting mechanoreceptors, like Ruffini endings and Merkel cells, are the “marathon runners” of the sensory world. They respond to sustained pressure or stretch and continue to send signals as long as the stimulus is present.

  1. Ruffini Endings: These are sensitive to skin stretch and sustained pressure. They help you sense the position of your body parts (proprioception) and control your finger position and movement. In terms of vibration therapy, they might not react as immediately as the Pacinian corpuscles, but they could play a crucial role in the body’s sustained response to the vibrations, such as ongoing adjustments of muscle tension or joint position.
  2. Merkel Cells: Primarily located in the skin, these cells are sensitive to pressure and texture. They provide detailed information about objects in contact with the skin, playing a crucial role in tactile discrimination tasks like reading Braille. In a therapeutic setting, they might help the person perceive the pressure exerted by the vibration device.

A Symphony of Sensations:

When mechanical vibrations are applied to the body, all these different mechanoreceptors work together, each contributing to a different aspect of the sensory experience. The fast-adapting receptors provide immediate but transient feedback, while the slow-adapting receptors sustain the sensory signals over time. This interplay could help the body make precise, rapid, and sustained adjustments in response to the vibrations, optimizing the potential benefits of the therapy.

References:

  1. Adstrum, S., Hedley, G., Schleip, R., Stecco, C., & Yucesoy, C. A. (2017). Defining the fascial system. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 21(1), 173-177.
  2. Bishop, J. H., Fox, J. R., Maple, R., Loretan, C., Badger, G. J., Henry, S. M., … & Langevin, H. M. (2016). Ultrasound evaluation of the combined effects of thoracolumbar fascia injury and movement restriction in a porcine model. PLoS One, 11(1), e0147393.
  3. Chaitow, L., DeLany, J. (2011). Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques, Volume 2: The Lower Body. Churchill Livingstone.
  4. Corey, S. M., Vizzard, M. A., Badger, G. J., Langevin, H. M. (2011). Sensory Innervation of the Nonspecialized Connective Tissues in the Low Back of the Rat. Cells Tissues Organs, 194(5), 521–530.
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  6. Kumar, P., Clark, M. (2005). Clinical Medicine. 6th edition. Elsevier Saunders.
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  8. Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., Fitzpatrick, D., Katz, L. C., LaMantia, A. S., McNamara, J. O., & Williams, S. M. (2001). Mechanoreceptors Specialized to Receive Tactile Information. In Neuroscience. 2nd edition. Sinauer Associates.
  9. Riemann, B. L., & Lephart, S. M. (2002). The sensorimotor system, part I: the physiologic basis of functional joint stability. Journal of athletic training, 37(1), 71.
  10. Schleip, R., Duerselen, L., Vleeming, A., Naylor, I. L., Lehmann-Horn, F., Zorn, A., … & Jaeger, H. (2012). Strain hardening of fascia: static stretching of dense fibrous connective tissues can induce a temporary stiffness increase accompanied by enhanced matrix hydration. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies, 16(1), 94-100.

Glossary:

  1. Fascia: A band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs.
  2. Mechanoreceptors: Sensory receptors that respond to mechanical pressure or distortion.
  3. Ruffini Endings: A type of slow-adapting mechanoreceptor found in the skin and fascia that responds to sustained pressure and tangential forces.
  4. Pacinian Corpuscles: Fast-adapting mechanoreceptors that are sensitive to mechanical pressure changes and vibrations.
  5. Merkel Cells: Slow-adapting mechanoreceptors found in the skin that are sensitive to pressure and texture.
  6. Meissner’s Corpuscles: Fast-adapting mechanoreceptors located in the dermal papillae of the skin, sensitive to light touch and low-frequency vibrations.
  7. Neuromuscular System: The complex system that integrates muscles and nerves in the body.
  8. Fibroblasts: Cells that produce collagen and other fibres, playing a crucial role in the healing of wounds and maintenance of skin and connective tissue health.
  9. Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
  10. Cross-Linkages: Bonds formed between collagen fibers in the fascia, which can sometimes lead to restrictions in mobility.
  11. Interstitial Fluid: Liquid found between the cells of the body that provides much of the liquid environment of the body.
  12. Muscle Spindles: Sensory receptors within the belly of a muscle, which primarily detect changes in the length of the muscle.
  13. Elasticity: The ability of tissue to return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed.
  14. Plasticity: The

ability of tissue to permanently change or adapt its structure in response to mechanical forces.

  1. Proprioception: The sense of the relative position of one’s own parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement.