Premium
Passive and active exercise improve regeneration and muscle reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury in the rat
Author(s) -
Udina Esther,
Puigdemasa Antoni,
Navarro Xavier
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.21912
Subject(s) - reinnervation , medicine , peripheral nerve injury , sciatic nerve , nerve injury , neuroscience , sensory system , reflex , regeneration (biology) , anatomy , anesthesia , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
: Lesions of peripheral nerves cause loss of motor and sensory function and also lead to hyperreflexia and hyperalgesia. Activity‐dependent therapies promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery and may improve sensory–motor coordination and restoration of adequate circuitry at the spinal level.Methods : We compared the effects of passive (bicycle) and active (treadmill) exercise on nerve regeneration and modulation of the spinal H reflex after transection and repair of the rat sciatic nerve. Animals were evaluated during 2 months using electrophysiological, functional, and histological methods.Results : Moderate exercise for 1 hour/day, either active treadmill walking or passive cycling, improved muscle reinnervation, increased the number of regenerated axons in the distal nerve, and reduced the increased excitability of spinal reflexes after nerve lesion.Discussion : Maintenance of denervated muscle activity and afferent input, by active or passive exercise, may increase trophic factor release to act on regenerating axons and to modulate central neuronal plasticity. Muscle Nerve, 2011