Faculty Collaboration Database

Between-day reliability of upper extremity H-reflexes. J Neurosci Methods 2008 May 30;170(2):317-23

Date

04/02/2008

Pubmed ID

18377996

DOI

10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.01.031

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-41949110046 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   23 Citations

Abstract

H-reflexes are useful for evaluating the group Ia monosynaptic reflex excitability in the lower and upper extremities (UEs). However, there is no established between-day protocol for measuring H-reflex excitability in the UE extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL). The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable protocol to measure the H-reflex excitability between-days for the ECRL, and the antagonist muscle, the flexor carpi radialis (FCR). H-reflex recruitment curves were recorded from eight healthy young subjects over 3 consecutive days in both muscles. Variables associated with the H-reflex excitability were measured: (a) maximum amplitude (Hmax); (b) gain (HGN); (c) threshold (HTH, visHTH, and sdHTH). All variables were normalized with respect to the M-wave. Within individual muscles, there were no statistically significant differences between-days for the group (p>0.05) and variables showed fair to good reliability (ICC=0.57-0.99). This method of reliably measuring H-reflex excitability within UE muscles will be useful for investigating the effects of pathology and rehabilitation on monosynaptic reflexes.

Author List

Stowe AM, Hughes-Zahner L, Stylianou AP, Schindler-Ivens S, Quaney BM

Author

Sheila Schindler-Ivens PhD Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Data Collection
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Electric Stimulation
Female
H-Reflex
Hand
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Muscle, Skeletal
Recruitment, Neurophysiological
Reproducibility of Results
Stroke
Upper Extremity