STUDY DESIGN: Hyper-reflexia, measured as a decrease of low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex, is known to occur in both humans and animals after spinal cord injury (SCI). Previous studies have shown that passive exercise for 3 months could be used to restore low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex after SCI. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of various periods of time on the ability of passive exercise to restore low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex. SETTING: Spinal Cord Injury Mobilization Program of the Center for Translational Neuroscience, the research arm of the Jackson T Stephens Spine and Neuroscience Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA. METHODS: Adult rats underwent complete spinal cord transection at the T10 level. The hindlimbs were passively exercised in different groups of rats for 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 15, 30, 45, 60, or 90 days, and low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex was tested. RESULTS: Statistically significant low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex was evident by 30 days of exercise, although numerical reductions were seen even at 15 days. There was a linear decrease in low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex with duration of passive exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Passive exercise can restore frequency-dependent depression of spinal reflexes in a time-dependent manner if used following complete spinal transection.
STUDY DESIGN:Hyper-reflexia, measured as a decrease of low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex, is known to occur in both humans and animals after spinal cord injury (SCI). Previous studies have shown that passive exercise for 3 months could be used to restore low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex after SCI. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of various periods of time on the ability of passive exercise to restore low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex. SETTING:Spinal Cord Injury Mobilization Program of the Center for Translational Neuroscience, the research arm of the Jackson T Stephens Spine and Neuroscience Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA. METHODS: Adult rats underwent complete spinal cord transection at the T10 level. The hindlimbs were passively exercised in different groups of rats for 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 15, 30, 45, 60, or 90 days, and low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex was tested. RESULTS: Statistically significant low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex was evident by 30 days of exercise, although numerical reductions were seen even at 15 days. There was a linear decrease in low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex with duration of passive exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Passive exercise can restore frequency-dependent depression of spinal reflexes in a time-dependent manner if used following complete spinal transection.
Authors: Natalia Alexeeva; Carol Sames; Patrick L Jacobs; Lori Hobday; Marcello M Distasio; Sarah A Mitchell; Blair Calancie Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2011 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Charlotte C Yates; Amanda Charlesworth; Nancy B Reese; Robert D Skinner; Edgar Garcia-Rill Journal: Exp Neurol Date: 2008-07-11 Impact factor: 5.330