H-reflex and vibratory stimuli to the extremity
Ioku, M.
Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology 21(1): 25-34
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-150X PMID: 7215281 Document Number: 175768
The influence of vibratory stimuli upon the spinal motoneuron pool was investigated using H-reflex recorded from the gastrocnemius muscle. The H1 and H2 were measured, and augmentation and reduction ratios were made. These ratios were plotted in the graph, which reflected of spreading and/or narrowing of discharge zone and some parts of the subliminal fringe which were influenced by vibratory stimuli given to the extremities of the patients with muscle tone abnormality. In spasticity, a certain abnormal spreading of discharge zone was recognized when the vibratory stimulation was given to the upper extremities. In rigidity, some obvious suppressive effects were seen when the vibratory stimulation was given to the gastrocnemius muscle, and abnormal facilitation could be observed when vibratory stimuli were given to the contralateral upper extremity when the gastrocnemius was vibrated at the same time. This method is considered as a meaningful examination to evaluate the excitability in the spinal motoneuron pool in various muscle tone abnormalities.