Ya-Ju Chang1, Ching-Chieh Chou2, Wan-Ting Huang2, Chin-Song Lu3, Alice M Wong4, Miao-Ju Hsu5. 1. Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: yjchang@mail.cgu.edu.tw. 2. Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 3. Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center and Section of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 4. Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 5. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: mjhsu@kmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare the reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in individuals with and without spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and to evaluate the effect of a 4-week leg cycling regimen on functional coordination and reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in patients with SCA. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. SETTING: Research laboratory in a general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with SCA (n=20) and without SCA (n=20). INTERVENTIONS: A single 15-minute session of leg cycling and a 4-week cycling regimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Individuals with SCA (n=20) and without SCA (n=20) underwent disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition tests of the soleus muscles before and after a single 15-minute cycling session. Individuals with SCA were randomly assigned to either participate in 4 weeks of cycling training (n=10) or to receive no training (n=10). The disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition and International Cooperative AtaxiaRating Scale (ICARS) scores were evaluated in both groups after 4 weeks. RESULTS:Individuals with SCA showed abnormally strong resting values of disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition (P<.001) and impaired inhibition modulation capacity after a single 15-minute session of cycling (P<.001). The inhibition modulation capacity was restored (P<.001), and the ICARS scores improved significantly (pre: 13.5±9.81, post: 11.3±8.74; P=.046) after 4 weeks of cycling training. CONCLUSIONS: A 4-week cycling regimen can normalize the modulation of reciprocal inhibition and functional performance in individuals with SCA. These findings are applicable to the coordination training of patients.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To compare the reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in individuals with and without spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and to evaluate the effect of a 4-week leg cycling regimen on functional coordination and reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in patients with SCA. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. SETTING: Research laboratory in a general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with SCA (n=20) and without SCA (n=20). INTERVENTIONS: A single 15-minute session of leg cycling and a 4-week cycling regimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Individuals with SCA (n=20) and without SCA (n=20) underwent disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition tests of the soleus muscles before and after a single 15-minute cycling session. Individuals with SCA were randomly assigned to either participate in 4 weeks of cycling training (n=10) or to receive no training (n=10). The disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition and International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) scores were evaluated in both groups after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Individuals with SCA showed abnormally strong resting values of disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition (P<.001) and impaired inhibition modulation capacity after a single 15-minute session of cycling (P<.001). The inhibition modulation capacity was restored (P<.001), and the ICARS scores improved significantly (pre: 13.5±9.81, post: 11.3±8.74; P=.046) after 4 weeks of cycling training. CONCLUSIONS: A 4-week cycling regimen can normalize the modulation of reciprocal inhibition and functional performance in individuals with SCA. These findings are applicable to the coordination training of patients.