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Changes in soleus H‐reflex during walking in middle‐aged, healthy subjects
Author(s) -
Raffalt Peter C.,
Alkjær Tine,
Simonsen Erik B.
Publication year - 2015
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.24279
Subject(s) - reflex , h reflex , soleus muscle , electromyography , medicine , swing , physical medicine and rehabilitation , treadmill , psychology , anatomy , anesthesia , physical therapy , physics , skeletal muscle , acoustics
: To assess the effect of aging on stretch reflex modulation during walking, soleus H‐reflexes obtained in 15 middle‐aged (mean age 56.4 ± 6.9 years) and 15 young (mean age 23.7 ± 3.9 years) subjects were compared. Methods : The H‐reflex amplitude, muscle activity (EMG) of the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles, and EMG/H‐reflex gain were measured during 4‐km/h treadmill walking. Results : The normalized H‐reflex amplitude was lower in the swing phase for the middle‐aged group, and there was no difference in muscle activity. EMG/H‐reflex gain did not differ between groups. Conclusions : H‐reflex amplitude during walking was affected by aging, and changes during the swing phase could be seen in the middle‐aged subjects. Subdividing the 2 age groups into groups of facilitated or suppressed swing‐phase H‐reflex revealed that the H‐reflex amplitude modulation pattern in the group with facilitated swing‐phase H‐reflex may be influenced by aging. Muscle Nerve 51: 419–425, 2015