Phase-dependent inhibition of H-reflexes during walking in humans is independent of reduction in knee angular velocity.

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate whether reduction in impulses arising from stretch of the quadriceps by restricting rapid knee flexion in early swing would affect inhibition of the H-reflex during swing. The contribution of afferent input arising from knee angular velocity to phase-dependent modulation of short-latency responses in the soleus was studied by simultaneously measuring joint velocity and soleus H-reflex responses at midstance and midswing phases of treadmill walking in 15 normal subjects. Stimulus strength was varied so that both maximal M and H waves were identified in each subject at midswing and midstance with the knee unrestricted (UK) and with knee movement restricted (RK), using a full leg bivalved cast to immobilize the knee joint. All subjects exhibited short-latency reflex responses in the soleus muscle. The H/M ratio at midswing was significantly reduced compared with midstance under both UK and RK walking conditions (P < 0.0001). When compared with UK walking, knee joint angular velocity during RK walking was significantly reduced at midswing (P < 0.001) and midstance (P < 0.005) compared with UK. There were, however, no significant differences in H/M ratios at midswing and midstance between UK and RK walking tests. Inhibition of the H-reflex in the soleus muscle during swing was not affected by significant reduction in knee angular velocity. These results indicate that the sensory input from changes in angular velocity at the knee does not lay the inhibitory foundation of phase-related reflex modulation in the ankle extensors during walking as suggested by Brooke and colleagues.