Sensorimotor Connectivity is related to Static Postural Control in Older Adults with History of Lateral Ankle Sprain

Context: The Sensorimotor Network (SMN) is often overlooked when determining relationships between postural control and sensorimotor function. SMN functional connectivity (FC) represents the temporal synchrony of functionally linked but spatially divergent brain regions. This study aimed to determine the relationship between SMN-FC and static postural control in older adults with a history of lateral ankle sprain (LAS). Methods Data were analyzed from twenty older adults (mean age = 67.0±4.3yrs; 13 females) with a history of LAS. The SMN was identified from resting-state MRI data. Bilateral thalamic and post-central gyri regions of interest were identified. Balance was assessed for the involved and non-involved limbs via center of pressure velocity (COPV) in the medial-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions. Results Contralateral SMN-FC was significantly associated with COPV_ML ( r = -0.468, P  = .05) and COPV_AP ( r = -0.530, P  = .02) in the non-involved limb. No significant association was observed between involved limb balance and contralateral SMN-FC (COPV_ML: r = -0.081, P  = .75; COPV_AP: r  = 0.136, P  = .60). Conclusion Findings suggest a dissociation between SMN-FC and balance in older adults with a history of LAS. The sensorimotor system’s ability to communicate with itself after injury may have an impact on functional performance, such as balance.