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Crossed spinal soleus muscle communication demonstrated by H‐reflex conditioning
Author(s) -
Stubbs Peter W.,
Nielsen Jørgen F.,
Sinkjær Thomas,
MrachaczKersting Natalie
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.21964
Subject(s) - h reflex , tibial nerve , reflex , soleus muscle , conditioning , medicine , anesthesia , electromyography , anatomy , neuroscience , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , skeletal muscle , stimulation , statistics , mathematics
: A conditioning volley to the ipsilateral tibial nerve (iTN) inhibits contralateral soleus (cSOL) electromyographic activity at latencies of 37–41 ms. This is evidence for spinal muscular communication in opposing limbs. The aim of our study was to determine whether the cSOL H‐reflex would be inhibited in a similar manner. Methods : Thirteen subjects participated in two experiments: (1) stimuli delivered to the iTN at 85% of the maximal peak‐to‐peak M‐wave (85% M‐max) with a pre‐contracted cSOL; (2) 510 stimuli delivered at 85% M‐max to the iTN with a test volley delivered to the contralateral tibial nerve at interstimulus intervals of −6 to 100 ms. Results : Significant inhibition was observed in the cSOL H‐reflex when conditioning stimuli were delivered 3–33 ms before the test H‐reflex. Conclusions : The activity of this spinal pathway can be quantified using H‐reflex conditioning to provide a controlled model for further studies of this response. Muscle Nerve, 2011