Inhibition of Knee Sensory Receptors Alters Quadriceps Muscle Coordination in the Rat

Internal joint structures such as ligaments are rich with sensory receptors. How the central nervous system (CNS) uses the information provided by these receptors to modify motor commands or guide rehabilitation is still poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that the sensory afferents originating from the receptors within the knee capsule affect the coordination of the quadriceps muscles in the rat. This result suggests the existence of control loops driven by these receptors. Lesions to internal joint structures should therefore not solely be considered as musculoskeletal injuries, but more broadly as neuromuscular injuries.