Reciprocal Inhibition Versus Reciprocal Facilitation In Spinal Cord Injury Patients
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Interventions
- Diagnostic Test: Tendon tapDiagnostic Test: Tibial nerve stimulation
- Registration Number
- NCT05985031
- Lead Sponsor
- Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital
- Brief Summary
Reciprocal inhibition is a medulla spinalis control mechanism that facilitates motor activities in healthy people. As the agonist muscle contracts, the antagonist muscle is inhibited so that the agonist action can take place properly. In the literature, there are studies showing that in patients with upper motor neuron lesions, this reverses, and reciprocal facilitation occurs instead of inhibition. However, there is no clear situation in this regard, there is a need for more methodologically sound studies. Our aim in this study is to investigate the presence of reciprocal facilitation in patients with spinal cord lesions (SCL).
- Detailed Description
Reciprocal inhibition is a spinal segmental control mechanism that facilitates motor activities in healthy people and is also used in treating spasticity. Considering the current literature, there are some studies claiming that this is reversed in patients with upper motor neuron lesions and that there is reciprocal facilitation instead of inhibition. However, the proposed evidence is not convincing. Our aim in this study was to investigate the presence of reciprocal facilitation in detail in patients with upper motor neuron lesions. This study was conducted in five patients with spinal cord lesions and five healthy individuals. Both the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles of the cases were recorded using surface and multi-motor unit electromyography (EMG) electrodes. To elicit an H reflex in the soleus muscle, an electric current was delivered through the popliteal fossa using the monopolar technique. The Achilles tendon was tapped with the reflex hammer to elicit a T reflex. Since the H-reflex and T-reflex responses were detected in the tibialis anterior muscle surface and multi-motor unit EMG recordings, the findings were evaluated as direct stimulation, cross-talk, and reciprocal facilitation. Methodologically, This research aimed to be a guiding study for future studies.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 10
- Patients with spinal cord injury between the ages of 18-60
- A minimum of 6 months of SCL history
- Soleus spasticity
- Patients with premorbid neuromuscular disease
- History of autonomic dysreflexia
- Patients in the spinal shock period
- Those who have a coronavirus disease clinic
- Less than 2 hours sitting tolerance
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Healthy Control Tendon tap This was the healthy control group. Achilles tendon hits were performed for eliciting the soleus T reflex while the ankle was in neutral, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion. Surface and multi-unit EMG recordings were taken from the anterior and soles muscles of the tibialis during the tendon tapping. Spinal cord injuries Tendon tap This was the patient group. Achilles tendon hits were performed for eliciting the soleus T reflex while the ankle was in neutral, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion. Surface and multi-unit EMG recordings were taken from the anterior and soles muscles of the tibialis during the tendon tapping. Healthy Control Tibial nerve stimulation This was the healthy control group. Achilles tendon hits were performed for eliciting the soleus T reflex while the ankle was in neutral, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion. Surface and multi-unit EMG recordings were taken from the anterior and soles muscles of the tibialis during the tendon tapping. Spinal cord injuries Tibial nerve stimulation This was the patient group. Achilles tendon hits were performed for eliciting the soleus T reflex while the ankle was in neutral, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion. Surface and multi-unit EMG recordings were taken from the anterior and soles muscles of the tibialis during the tendon tapping.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Reciprocal Inhibition up to 2 weeks H reflex and T reflex tests were performed in the soleus and tibialis anterior muscle, and it was evaluated whether there was reciprocal inhibition in the tibialis anterior muscle.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method H-reflex up to 2 weeks Electric current was delivered through the popliteal fossa to tibial nerve for eliciting the soleus H-reflex
T-reflex up to 2 weeks The Achilles tendon was hit with using a reflex hammer to elicit the soleus T-reflex.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
İstanbul Physical Therapy Training and Research Hospital
🇹🇷Istanbul, Turkey