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The effect of whole body vibration on the H ‐reflex, the stretch reflex, and the short‐latency response during hopping
Author(s) -
Ritzmann R.,
Kramer A.,
Gollhofer A.,
Taube W.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01388.x
Subject(s) - reflex , stretch reflex , h reflex , whole body vibration , medicine , ankle jerk reflex , neuroscience , triceps reflex , anesthesia , withdrawal reflex , psychology , physics , vibration , quantum mechanics
The effect of whole body vibration ( WBV ) on reflex responses is controversially discussed in the literature. In this study, three different modalities of reflex activation with increased motor complexity have been selected to clarify the effects of acute WBV on reflex activation: (1) the electrically evoked H ‐reflex, (2) the mechanically elicited stretch reflex, and (3) the short‐latency response ( SLR ) during hopping. WBV ‐induced changes of the H ‐reflex, the stretch reflex, and the SLR during hopping were recorded in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles and were analyzed before, during (only the H ‐reflex), immediately after, 5 min and 10 min after WBV . The main findings were that (1) the H ‐reflexes were significantly reduced during and at least up to 5 min after WBV , (2) the stretch reflex amplitudes were also significantly reduced immediately after WBV but recovered to their initial amplitudes within 5 min, and (3) the SLR during hopping showed no vibration‐induced modulation. With regard to the modalities with low motor complexities, the decreased H ‐ and stretch reflex responses are assumed to point toward a reduced Ia afferent transmission during and after WBV . However, it is assumed that during hopping, the suppression of reflex sensitivity is compensated by facilitatory mechanisms in this complex motor task.