Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
6 p.; 24 cm.
Publication Date
8-2007
Publisher
Elsevier
Source Publication
Neuroscience Letters
Source ISSN
0304-3940
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.06.032
Abstract
Imposed static hip stretches substantially modulate the soleus H-reflex in people with an intact or injured spinal cord while stretch of the hip flexors affect the walking pattern in lower vertebrates and humans. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of dynamic hip stretches on the soleus H-reflex in supine spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects. Sinusoidal movements were imposed on the right hip joint at 0.2 Hz by a Biodex system. H-reflexes from the soleus muscle were recorded as the leg moved in flexion or extension. Stimuli were sent only once in every hip movement cycle that each lasted 5 s. Torque responses were recorded at the hip, knee, and ankle joints. A hip phase-dependent soleus H-reflex modulation was present in all subjects. The reflex was facilitated during hip extension and suppressed during hip flexion. There were no significant differences in pre- or post-stimulus soleus background activity between the two conditions. Oscillatory responses were present as the hip was maximally flexed. Sinusoidal hip stretches modulated the soleus H-reflex in a manner similar to that previously observed following static hip stretches. The amount of reflex facilitation depended on the angle of hip extension. Further research is needed on the afferent control of spinal reflex pathways in health and disease in order to better understand the neural control of movement in humans. This will aid in the development of rehabilitation strategies to restore motor function in these patients.
Recommended Citation
Knikou, Maria; Schmit, Brian D.; Chaudhuri, Debjani; Kay, Elizabeth; and Rymer, WIlliam Zev, "Soleus H-reflex Excitability Changes in Response to Sinusoidal Hip Stretches in the Injured Human Spinal Cord" (2007). Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 313.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bioengin_fac/313
Comments
Accepted version. Neuroscience Letters, Vol. 423, No. 1 (August 2007): 18-23. DOI. © 2007 Elsevier. Used with permission.
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Neuroscience Letters. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication.