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Sudden loading perturbation to determine the reflex response of different back muscles: A reliability study
Author(s) -
Santos Brenda R,
Larivière Christian,
Delisle Alain,
McFadden David,
Plamondon André,
Imbeau Daniel
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.21870
Subject(s) - intraclass correlation , electromyography , generalizability theory , reliability (semiconductor) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , reflex , mathematics , statistics , medicine , reproducibility , anesthesia , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
In this study we estimate the reliability of reflex response variables to identify the main sources of variability and to estimate appropriate measurement strategies to obtain more reliable measures. Back muscle surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded in healthy males during anteriorly‐directed sudden loading perturbations applied to the trunk. Measures of EMG reflex latency and amplitude were obtained. The generalizability theory was used as a framework to estimate the magnitude of the different variance components and the reliability of the measures corresponding to various simulations of different measurement strategies. Reliability of the different variables was poor to moderate (intraclass correlation coefficient range 0–0.62). Averaging scores across homologous muscles and several trials were strategies to achieve more acceptable reliability. The reflex response of back muscles is inherently variable, and a large measurement effort is necessary to obtain reliable and, consequently, valid and responsive estimations of this neuromuscular function. Muscle Nerve, 2011