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M‐wave and H‐reflex recruitment curves in boys and men
Author(s) -
Piponnier Enzo,
Ratel Sébastien,
Chalchat Emeric,
Bontemps Bastien,
Bocock Olivia,
Julian Valérie,
Duclos Martine,
Martin Vincent
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1002/jdn.10099
Subject(s) - h reflex , f wave , reflex , amplitude , medicine , physics , nerve conduction velocity , quantum mechanics
The aim of the present study was to check whether the M‐wave and H‐reflex recruitment curves differ between prepubertal boys and men. Eleven boys (9–11 yr) and eleven men (18–35 yr) were magnetically stimulated at the tibial nerve in a prone position. M‐wave and H‐reflex maximal amplitudes (H max; M max ; H max /M max ), thresholds, regression slopes (H slp ; M slp ; H slp /M slp ) were extracted from M‐wave and H‐reflex recruitment curves and compared between the two age groups. Overall, no significant difference in M‐wave and H‐reflex recruitment curve parameters was found between the two populations. Nevertheless, the size of the M‐wave associated with maximal H‐reflex amplitude was lower in boys as compared to men when expressed relative to maximal M‐wave amplitude (M Hmax /M max : 0.18 ± 0.06 vs. 0.31 ± 0.13; p < .05). This result suggests that the development of peripheral nerve was completed in 9 to 11‐year‐old boys and did not affect the M‐wave and H‐reflex recruitment curves parameters. In neuromuscular function studies, it implies that H max /M max and H slp /M slp could be used indifferently to compare spinal motoneuron excitability between 9–11‐year‐old boys and men. Conversely, evoking H‐reflexes at a given percentage of M max may bias the comparison between boys and men.