Maria Knikou1, William Zev Rymer. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 345 East Superior, Room 1406, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. m-knikou@northwestern.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the modulation of the soleus H reflex in spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects resulting from imposed changes in hip angle and to establish whether changes in H reflex amplitude co-vary with changes in reflex latency and duration. METHODS: H reflexes were recorded using conventional methods in 7 SCI subjects in the supine position. The right leg was secured by a leg brace and positioned at various angles of hip flexion (30 degrees, 40 degrees ) and at 10 degrees of hip extension. RESULTS: We found that imposing 10 degrees of hip extension resulted in a significant facilitation in the size of the soleus H reflex in all of the SCI subjects tested (200% of control reflex; recorded at 10 degrees of hip flexion). In contrast, positioning the hip at 30 degrees and at 40 degrees of flexion resulted in a significant reduction of the H reflex in 6 of 7 SCI subjects tested. In the remaining subject, an increase in the H reflex amplitude was observed. Modulation of H reflex amplitude coincided with shifts in both H reflex latency and duration. The reflex latency was prolonged when the reflex amplitude was reduced following hip flexion, while hip extension shortened the reflex latency. In contrast, the H reflex duration was prolonged with hip extended and shortened with hip flexed. CONCLUSIONS: When changes in static hip joint position are imposed in SCI subjects, changes in afferent feedback from hip proprioceptors are capable of promoting a switch between excitatory and inhibitory pathways. Associated changes in H reflex latency and duration are consistent with the hypothesis that oligosynaptic inputs contribute to the hip angle-induced H reflex modulation. Possible mechanisms for these effects are discussed.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the modulation of the soleus H reflex in spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects resulting from imposed changes in hip angle and to establish whether changes in H reflex amplitude co-vary with changes in reflex latency and duration. METHODS: H reflexes were recorded using conventional methods in 7 SCI subjects in the supine position. The right leg was secured by a leg brace and positioned at various angles of hip flexion (30 degrees, 40 degrees ) and at 10 degrees of hip extension. RESULTS: We found that imposing 10 degrees of hip extension resulted in a significant facilitation in the size of the soleus H reflex in all of the SCI subjects tested (200% of control reflex; recorded at 10 degrees of hip flexion). In contrast, positioning the hip at 30 degrees and at 40 degrees of flexion resulted in a significant reduction of the H reflex in 6 of 7 SCI subjects tested. In the remaining subject, an increase in the H reflex amplitude was observed. Modulation of H reflex amplitude coincided with shifts in both H reflex latency and duration. The reflex latency was prolonged when the reflex amplitude was reduced following hip flexion, while hip extension shortened the reflex latency. In contrast, the H reflex duration was prolonged with hip extended and shortened with hip flexed. CONCLUSIONS: When changes in static hip joint position are imposed in SCI subjects, changes in afferent feedback from hip proprioceptors are capable of promoting a switch between excitatory and inhibitory pathways. Associated changes in H reflex latency and duration are consistent with the hypothesis that oligosynaptic inputs contribute to the hip angle-induced H reflex modulation. Possible mechanisms for these effects are discussed.
Authors: Maria Knikou; Brian D Schmit; Debjani Chaudhuri; Elizabeth Kay; William Zev Rymer Journal: Neurosci Lett Date: 2007-06-29 Impact factor: 3.046