Johan Van Doornik⁽¹⁾, Dimitris Patikas⁽²⁾, Daniel Olivier⁽³⁾, Gabriella Cerri⁽⁴⁾, Michel Ladouceur⁽⁵⁾, Jens Bo Nielsen⁽⁶⁾, Thomas Sinkjaer^(7)
(1)Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction - Aalborg. Denmark
⁽²⁾Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Thessaloniki. Greece
⁽⁵⁾Dept. of Medical Informatics and Image Analysis. Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI). Institute of Electronic Systems, Aalborg University - Aalborg O. Denmark
⁽⁷⁾Center for Sensory Motor Interaction. Aalborg University - Aalborg. Denmark

Contact address:

Johan Van Doornik Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction Fredrik Bajers Vej 7 D3 Aalborg 9220 Denmark jvd@smi.auc.dk

	[Neuroscience]	[Physiology]	[Neurology]	[Physical Therapeutics & Rehabilitation]

ABSTRACT

After a stretch of the ankle dorsiflexors, three distinct peaks (M1, M2, and M3) can be recognised in the EMG recorded from the Tibialis Anterior (TA) muscle. The neural pathways involved in these components of the stretch reflex are still being investigated. In this study, we tried to modulate these components of the stretch reflex by means of balance training (2 x 15 minutes). It was hypothesised that the required continuing attention of the participant to his or her balance would be reflected by a differential change in the size of the TA M3 component directly after the training session. In addition, the size of the transcranial magnetic stimulation Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) was used to evaluate changes in motor cortical excitability. It was found that in the precontracted TA (5 Nm), 4 out of 6 participants showed a decrease in M3, which was concomitant with a reduced M1 in only 1 participant. The MEP was investigated in 3 of the 4 participants that had a reduced M3 with no reduction of M1. In two participants the plateau phase of the MEP was decreased. Surprisingly, these results indicate that one adaptation strategy for the balance board could be a decreased motor cortical influence, maybe to prevent overcompensation while balancing.

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Keywords: stretch reflex - transcranial magnetic stimulation - balance - plasticity - human -

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Discussion Board

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[ABSTRACT] [INTRODUCTION] [METHODS] [RESULTS] [FIGURES] [CONCLUSION & DISCUSSION] [REFERENCES] [Discussion Board]

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	[Neuroscience]	[Physiology]	[Neurology]	[Physical Therapeutics & Rehabilitation]

Johan Van Doornik, Dimitris Patikas, Daniel Olivier, Gabriella Cerri, Michel Ladouceur, Jens Bo Nielsen, Thomas Sinkjaer
Copyright © 1999-2000. All rights reserved.

Last update: 11/02/00