The effect of stress-induced cortisol increase on the sense of ankle proprioception

Özet

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of stress-induced cortisol increase on the sense of ankle proprioception.Patients and methods: Between April 2016 and May 2016, a total of 60 students (30 males, 30 females; mean age: 19.2±1.5 years; range,19 to 20 years) from İnönü University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Freshmen were included in the study. Separate measurementswere made for the right and left ankle to make ankle proprioception measurements a month before the committee exam during theirrelaxed period using a device designed with digital inclinometer. The sense of ankle proprioception was measured at 10° dorsiflexion (DF),11° plantar flexion (PF), and 25° PF angles with open eyes and closed eyes using active reproduction test. Salivary samples were taken forstress assessment and State Trait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I) was conducted. The same tests were repeated on the day of committee exam.Results: Test results showed no statistically significant difference between the right and left ankle proprioception measurements of 10° DF,11° PF, and 25° PF angles with open eyes (p>0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was found between the right and left ankleproprioception scores at the same angles with closed eyes (p<0.05). According to the Wilcoxon analysis conducted for the comparison of therelaxed and stressed periods of cortisol and STAI-I inventory, a statistically significant difference was found (p<0.05). The Spearman’s Rhoanalysis showed no significant correlation between the right and left ankle proprioception scores and cortisol and STAI-I with open eyes,while there was a statistically significantly positive direction and low correlation between the same angles with closed eyes.Conclusion: Our study results show that the increase in the stress-related cortisol is negative for the ankle proprioception sense.