C T Robertson1, D M Koceja. 1. Motor Control Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Program in Neural Science, HPER 112, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of age on the spinal mechanism post-activation depression (PD) and its relationship with postural sway. METHODS:Two groups, young (n = 10, 25.2 +/- 5.2 yr) and elderly (n = 10, 74.6 +/- 6.3 yr) participated in this study. Soleus H-reflex amplitude (peak-to-peak EMG) was measured prior to and after a passive dorsiflexion about the ankle (from 120 degrees plantarflexion to 110 degrees plantarflexion at 15 degrees/s). All H-reflex measurements were recorded at an ankle joint angle of 110 degrees. For each group, stimulus intensity was set at 25% of maximal motor response (M-max) and PD measurement intervals were randomly assigned at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, and 18 seconds post-movement. To ascertain whether PD was related to postural sway, standing sway area (mm2) was also measured. Subjects stood motionless (20 second duration) on a Kistler force platform during two conditions: with and without vision. RESULTS: A split-plot ANOVA (Group x Interval) indicated significant differences (F(1.18) = 14.80, p < 0.05) in PD between young and elderly, as well as a Group x Interval interaction (F(10, 180) = 16.02, p < 0.05). Simple main effects identified significant (p < 0.05) intervals at 0, 1, 2, and 3 seconds. The elderly had on average 16.1% less H-reflex depression during the first three seconds after muscle activation. Additionally, a split-plot ANOVA (Group x Condition) indicated significant differences (F(1, 18) = 10.72, p < 0.05) in sway area between young and elderly, but regression analysis indicated post-activation depression and postural sway were not significantly correlated. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the integrity of the Ia-motoneuron synapse as measured with a PD protocol, is different between young and elderly subjects, but that this difference is not related to postural sway.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of age on the spinal mechanism post-activation depression (PD) and its relationship with postural sway. METHODS: Two groups, young (n = 10, 25.2 +/- 5.2 yr) and elderly (n = 10, 74.6 +/- 6.3 yr) participated in this study. Soleus H-reflex amplitude (peak-to-peak EMG) was measured prior to and after a passive dorsiflexion about the ankle (from 120 degrees plantarflexion to 110 degrees plantarflexion at 15 degrees/s). All H-reflex measurements were recorded at an ankle joint angle of 110 degrees. For each group, stimulus intensity was set at 25% of maximal motor response (M-max) and PD measurement intervals were randomly assigned at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, and 18 seconds post-movement. To ascertain whether PD was related to postural sway, standing sway area (mm2) was also measured. Subjects stood motionless (20 second duration) on a Kistler force platform during two conditions: with and without vision. RESULTS: A split-plot ANOVA (Group x Interval) indicated significant differences (F(1.18) = 14.80, p < 0.05) in PD between young and elderly, as well as a Group x Interval interaction (F(10, 180) = 16.02, p < 0.05). Simple main effects identified significant (p < 0.05) intervals at 0, 1, 2, and 3 seconds. The elderly had on average 16.1% less H-reflex depression during the first three seconds after muscle activation. Additionally, a split-plot ANOVA (Group x Condition) indicated significant differences (F(1, 18) = 10.72, p < 0.05) in sway area between young and elderly, but regression analysis indicated post-activation depression and postural sway were not significantly correlated. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the integrity of the Ia-motoneuron synapse as measured with a PD protocol, is different between young and elderly subjects, but that this difference is not related to postural sway.
Authors: Richard B Stein; Kristen L Estabrooks; Steven McGie; Michael J Roth; Kelvin E Jones Journal: Exp Brain Res Date: 2007-06-12 Impact factor: 1.972