Enhanced stretch reflex excitability of the soleus muscle in persons with incomplete rather than complete chronic spinal cord injury. 2006

Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
Department of Movement Functions, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Saitama, Japan. nakazawa@rehab.go.jp

OBJECTIVE To compare excitabilities of spinal stretch reflex among clinically complete spinal cord injury (SCI), incomplete SCI, elderly healthy, and young healthy subjects. METHODS Case comparison. METHODS Research laboratory. METHODS Volunteer sample of 12 complete SCI, 10 incomplete SCI, 10 elderly, and 11 young subjects. METHODS Mechanically induced stretch reflex, H-reflex, and M response in electromyographic activity of the soleus muscle were recorded in all subjects. METHODS Absolute peak-to-peak stretch reflex amplitude and maximum H-reflex (Hmax), and those values relative to the maximum M response (Mmax) amplitude (relative peak-to-peak stretch reflex amplitude) and H/M ratio. RESULTS Both the absolute and relative peak-to-peak stretch reflex amplitudes showed the greatest values in incomplete SCI among the 4 groups. Although absolute and relative peak-to-peak stretch reflex amplitudes of the incomplete SCI group were greater than those of the complete SCI group, the H/M ratios of both groups were comparable, and were greater than those of the younger and elderly groups. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the greater absolute and relative peak-to-peak stretch reflex amplitudes of incomplete SCI were mostly due to the greater maximum motor potential (Mmax), while the elevated spinal motoneuronal excitability shown by the increased H/M ratio was maintained in the chronic stage after both complete and incomplete SCIs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007537 Isometric Contraction Muscular contractions characterized by increase in tension without change in length. Contraction, Isometric,Contractions, Isometric,Isometric Contractions
D008297 Male Males
D009048 Motor Skills Performance of complex motor acts. Motor Skill,Skill, Motor,Skills, Motor
D009460 Neurologic Examination Assessment of sensory and motor responses and reflexes that is used to determine impairment of the nervous system. Examination, Neurologic,Neurological Examination,Examination, Neurological,Examinations, Neurologic,Examinations, Neurological,Neurologic Examinations,Neurological Examinations
D010264 Paraplegia Severe or complete loss of motor function in the lower extremities and lower portions of the trunk. This condition is most often associated with SPINAL CORD DISEASES, although BRAIN DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; and MUSCULAR DISEASES may also cause bilateral leg weakness. Paralysis, Lower Extremities,Paraplegia, Spastic,Spastic Paraplegia,Paralysis, Legs,Paralysis, Lower Limbs,Paraplegia, Ataxic,Paraplegia, Cerebral,Paraplegia, Flaccid,Paraplegia, Spinal,Ataxic Paraplegia,Ataxic Paraplegias,Cerebral Paraplegia,Cerebral Paraplegias,Flaccid Paraplegia,Flaccid Paraplegias,Paraplegias,Paraplegias, Ataxic,Paraplegias, Cerebral,Paraplegias, Flaccid,Paraplegias, Spastic,Paraplegias, Spinal,Spastic Paraplegias,Spinal Paraplegia,Spinal Paraplegias
D011782 Quadriplegia Severe or complete loss of motor function in all four limbs which may result from BRAIN DISEASES; SPINAL CORD DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; or rarely MUSCULAR DISEASES. The locked-in syndrome is characterized by quadriplegia in combination with cranial muscle paralysis. Consciousness is spared and the only retained voluntary motor activity may be limited eye movements. This condition is usually caused by a lesion in the upper BRAIN STEM which injures the descending cortico-spinal and cortico-bulbar tracts. Quadriparesis,Spastic Quadriplegia,Tetraplegia,Flaccid Quadriplegia,Flaccid Tetraplegia,Paralysis, Spinal, Quadriplegic,Spastic Tetraplegia,Flaccid Quadriplegias,Flaccid Tetraplegias,Quadripareses,Quadriplegia, Flaccid,Quadriplegia, Spastic,Quadriplegias,Quadriplegias, Flaccid,Quadriplegias, Spastic,Spastic Quadriplegias,Spastic Tetraplegias,Tetraplegia, Flaccid,Tetraplegia, Spastic,Tetraplegias,Tetraplegias, Flaccid,Tetraplegias, Spastic
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D012016 Reference Values The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality. Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D012026 Reflex, Stretch Reflex contraction of a muscle in response to stretching, which stimulates muscle proprioceptors. Reflex, Tendon,Stretch Reflex,Tendon Reflex
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic

Related Publications

Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
January 2009, European journal of applied physiology,
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
October 2019, Experimental brain research,
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
May 2004, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation,
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
August 1996, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation,
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
April 1973, Lancet (London, England),
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
May 2010, Spinal cord,
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
December 2022, Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985),
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
November 2006, Spinal cord,
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
January 2024, Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology,
Kimitaka Nakazawa, and Noritaka Kawashima, and Masami Akai
October 2014, Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!