The Effect Of Foot Sole Sensitivity On Lateral Gastrocnemius H-reflex Modulation During Walking Stance Phase

ABSTRACT:Hoffmann (H) reflexes were elicited from the soleus muscle during treadmill walking in 21 spastic paretic patients. The soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were reciprocally activated during walking in most patients, much like that observed in healthy individuals. The pattern of H-reflex modulation varied considerably between patients, from being relatively normal in some patients to a complete absence of modulation in others. The most common pattern observed was a lack of H-reflex modulation through the stance phase and slight depression of the reflex in the swing phase, considerably less modulation than that of normal subjects under comparable walking conditions. The high reflex amplitudes during periods of the step cycle such as early stance seems to be related to the stretch-induced large electromyogram bursts in the soleus in some subjects. The abnormally active reflexes appear to contribute to the clonus encountered during walking in these patients. In three patients who were able to walk for extended periods, the effect of stimulus intensity was examined. Two of these patients showed a greater degree of reflex modulation at lower stimulus intensities, suggesting that the lack of modulation observed at higher stimulus intensities is a result of saturation of the reflex loop. In six other patients, however, no reflex modulation could be demonstrated even at very low stimulus intensities.

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Soleus H-reflex Modulation During Stance Phase of Walking with Altered Arm Swing Patterns

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000323373.39225.26 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement) ◽

pp. S343

Author(s):

Chetan P. Phadke ◽

Marc Klimstra ◽

E Paul Zehr ◽

Andrea L. Behrman ◽

Floyd J. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Stance Phase ◽

H Reflex ◽

Reflex Modulation ◽

Arm Swing

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Soleus H-Reflex Modulation during Stance Phase of Walking with Altered Arm Swing Patterns

Motor Control ◽

10.1123/mcj.14.1.116 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 116-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Chetan P. Phadke ◽

Marc Klimstra ◽

E Paul. Zehr ◽

Floyd J. Thompson ◽

Andrea L. Behrman

Keyword(s):

Stance Phase ◽

H Reflex ◽

Reflex Modulation ◽

Arm Swing

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Acute Effects of Kinesiology Taping Stretch Tensions on Soleus and Gastrocnemius H-Reflex Modulations

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094411 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4411

Author(s):

Yung-Sheng Chen ◽

Shi Zhou ◽

Zachary J. Crowley-McHattan ◽

Pedro Bezerra ◽

Wei-Chin Tseng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

H Reflex ◽

Triceps Surae ◽

Reflex Modulation ◽

Hoffmann Reflex ◽

Acute Effects ◽

Physically Active ◽

M Wave ◽

Subject Design ◽

Minor Influence ◽

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This study examined the acute effects of stretch tensions of kinesiology taping (KT) on the soleus (SOL), medial (MG), and lateral (LG) gastrocnemius Hoffmann-reflex (H-reflex) modulation in physically active healthy adults. A cross-over within-subject design was used in this study. Twelve physically active collegiate students voluntarily participated in the study (age = 21.3 ± 1.2 years; height = 175.6 ± 7.1 cm; body weight = 69.9 ± 7.1 kg). A standard Y-shape of KT technique was applied to the calf muscles. The KT was controlled in three tension intensities in a randomised order: paper-off, 50%, and 100% of maximal stretch tension of the tape. The peak-to-peak amplitude of maximal M-wave (Mmax) and H-reflex (Hmax) responses in the SOL, MG, and LG muscles were assessed before taping (pre-taping), taping, and after taping (post-taping) phases in the lying prone position. The results demonstrated significantly larger LG Hmax responses in the pre-taping condition than those in the post-taping condition during paper-off KT (p = 0.002). Moreover, the ΔHmax/Mmax of pre- and post-taping in the SOL muscle was significantly larger during 50%KT tension than that of paper-off (p = 0.046). In conclusion, the stretch tension of KT contributes minor influence on the spinal motoneuron excitability in the triceps surae during rest.

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Progressive Adaptation of the Soleus H-Reflex With Daily Training at Walking Backward

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00403.2002 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 89 (2) ◽

pp. 648-656 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Cyril Schneider ◽

Charles Capaday

Keyword(s):

Motor Program ◽

High Amplitude ◽

H Reflex ◽

Adaptive Plasticity ◽

Reflex Activity ◽

Reflex Modulation ◽

Surprising Result ◽

Backward Walking ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Daily Training

When untrained subjects walk backward on a treadmill the amplitude of the soleus H-reflex in midswing is equal to or exceeds the value in stance. This is a surprising result because during the swing phase of backward walking the soleus is inactive and its antagonist, the tibialis anterior, is active. We suggested that the high amplitude of the soleus H-reflex in late swing reflects task uncertainties, such as estimating the moment of foot contact with the ground and losing balance. In support of this idea we show that when untrained subjects held on to handrails the unexpected high-amplitude H-reflex during midswing was no longer present. We therefore asked whether daily training at this task without grasping the handrails would adaptively modify the H-reflex modulation pattern. In this event, within 10 days of training for 15 min daily, the anticipatory reflex activity at the beginning of training was gradually abated as the subjects reported gaining confidence at the task. However, when adapted subjects were made to walk backward with their eyes shut, the anticipatory reflex activity in midswing returned immediately. The reflex changes as a result of training were not due to changes in the motor activity or kinematics; they are likely part of the motor program controlling backward walking. This adaptive phenomenon may prove to be a useful model for studying the neural mechanisms of motor learning and adaptive plasticity in humans and may be relevant to rehabilitation programs for neurological patients.

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Stretch of Quadriceps Inhibits the Soleus H Reflex During Locomotion in Decerebrate Cats

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.1997.78.6.2975 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 78 (6) ◽

pp. 2975-2984 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

John E. Misiaszek ◽

Keir G. Pearson

Keyword(s):

Stretch Reflex ◽

Stance Phase ◽

Background Level ◽

Afferent Input ◽

H Reflex ◽

The Body ◽

Afferent Feedback ◽

Electromyographic Activity ◽

Locomotor Rhythm ◽

Decerebrate Cats

Misiaszek, John E. and Keir G. Pearson. Stretch of quadriceps inhibits the soleus H reflex during locomotion in decerebrate cats. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2975–2984, 1997. Previously, it has been demonstrated that afferent signals from the quadriceps muscles can suppress H reflexes in humans during passive movements of the leg. To establish whether afferent input from quadriceps contributes to the modulation of the soleus H reflex during locomotion, the soleus H reflex was conditioned with stretches of the quadriceps muscle during bouts of spontaneous treadmill locomotion in decerebrate cats. We hypothesized that 1) in the absence of locomotion such conditioning would lead to suppression of the soleus H reflex and 2) this would be retained during periods of locomotor activity. In the absence of locomotion, slow sinusoidal stretches (0.2 Hz, 8 mm) of quadriceps cyclically modulated the amplitude of the soleus H reflex. The H reflex amplitude was least during the lengthening of the quadriceps and greatest as quadriceps shortened. Further, low-amplitude vibrations (48–78 μm) applied to the patellar tendon suppressed the reflex, indicating that the muscle spindle primaries were the receptor eliciting the effect. During bouts of locomotion, ramp stretches of quadriceps were applied during the extensor phase of the locomotor rhythm. Soleus H reflexes sampled at two points during the stance phase were reduced compared with phase-matched controls. The background level of the soleus electromyographic activity was not influenced by the applied stretches to quadriceps, either during locomotion or in the absence of locomotion. This indicates that the excitability of the soleus motoneuron pool was not influenced by the stretching of quadriceps, and that the inhibition of the soleus H reflex is due to presynaptic inhibition. We conclude that group Ia afferent feedback from quadriceps contributes to the regulation of the soleus H reflex during the stance phase of locomotion in decerebrate cats. This afferent mediated source of regulation of the H reflex, or monosynaptic stretch reflex, would allow for rapid alterations in reflex gain according to the dynamic needs of the animal. During early stance, this source of regulation might suppress the soleus stretch reflex to allow adequate yielding at the ankle and facilitate the movement of the body over the foot.

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Acute Effects Of Locomotor Training on Overground Walking Speed and H-Reflex Modulation in Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine ◽

10.1080/10790268.2001.11753558 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 74-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Mark H. Trimble ◽

Andrea L. Behrman ◽

Sheryl M. Flynn ◽

Mary T. Thigpen ◽

Floyd J. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Walking Speed ◽

H Reflex ◽

Reflex Modulation ◽

Locomotor Training ◽

Acute Effects ◽

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Overground Walking ◽

Cord Injury

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Quadriceps H-Reflex Modulation During Pedaling

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00149.2005 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 96 (1) ◽

pp. 197-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Birgit Larsen ◽

Michael Voigt

Keyword(s):

Neural Control ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Phase Speed ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Quadriceps Muscle ◽

H Reflex ◽

Movement Speed ◽

Reflex Modulation ◽

Motor Recruitment ◽

And Task

The main aims of this study were 1) to investigate possible phase-, speed-, and task-dependent changes in the quadriceps H-reflex during pedaling, and to achieve this, 2) to develop an optimized H-reflex recording and processing procedure for recording of quadriceps H-reflexes during movement. It was hypothesized that the behavior of the quadriceps H-reflex concerning phase, speed, and task dependency corresponds to the behavior of the soleus H-reflex during rhythmical leg movements. The applied H-reflex procedure appeared to be reliable for obtaining the quadriceps H-reflex modulation during leg movement. The vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) H-reflexes showed a phase-dependent modulation during pedaling at a frequency of 80 rpm with almost parallel changes in the reflex amplitude and motor recruitment level. However, when the speed of movement was reduced from 80 to 40 revolutions per minute (rpm) and crank load simultaneously increased (i.e., a halving of the movement speed with a constant motor recruitment level), the quadriceps H-reflex modulation pattern changed significantly in relation to the pattern of motor recruitment, i.e., at 40 rpm, the reflex excitability remained high during a gradual derecruitment during power generation in downstroke. Comparison of the “operationally defined H-reflex gain function” obtained during 1) pedaling at 80 rpm and 2) isometric quadriceps contractions in sitting position showed no significant task-dependent changes in the quadriceps H-reflex. Consequently, the hypothesis was only partly corroborated, and the findings indicate differences in the neural control of the soleus and the quadriceps muscle during rhythmical movements.

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Phase-Dependent Inhibition of H-Reflexes During Walking in Humans Is Independent of Reduction in Knee Angular Velocity

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.1999.82.2.747 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 747-753 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

M. Garrett ◽

T. Kerr ◽

B. Caulfield

Keyword(s):

Angular Velocity ◽

Knee Joint ◽

Soleus Muscle ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Afferent Input ◽

H Reflex ◽

Short Latency ◽

Reflex Modulation ◽

Reflex Responses ◽

Knee Movement

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate whether reduction in impulses arising from stretch of the quadriceps by restricting rapid knee flexion in early swing would affect inhibition of the H-reflex during swing. The contribution of afferent input arising from knee angular velocity to phase-dependent modulation of short-latency responses in the soleus was studied by simultaneously measuring joint velocity and soleus H-reflex responses at midstance and midswing phases of treadmill walking in 15 normal subjects. Stimulus strength was varied so that both maximal M and H waves were identified in each subject at midswing and midstance with the knee unrestricted (UK) and with knee movement restricted (RK), using a full leg bivalved cast to immobilize the knee joint. All subjects exhibited short-latency reflex responses in the soleus muscle. The H/M ratio at midswing was significantly reduced compared with midstance under both UK and RK walking conditions ( P < 0.0001). When compared with UK walking, knee joint angular velocity during RK walking was significantly reduced at midswing ( P < 0.001) and midstance ( P < 0.005) compared with UK. There were, however, no significant differences in H/M ratios at midswing and midstance between UK and RK walking tests. Inhibition of the H-reflex in the soleus muscle during swing was not affected by significant reduction in knee angular velocity. These results indicate that the sensory input from changes in angular velocity at the knee does not lay the inhibitory foundation of phase-related reflex modulation in the ankle extensors during walking as suggested by Brooke and colleagues.

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