Short-latency crossed spinal responses are impaired differently in sub-acute and chronic stroke patients

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology Vol. 123; no. 3; pp. 541 - 549
• Main Authors: Stubbs, P.W, Nielsen, J.F, Sinkjær, T, Mrachacz-Kersting, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Central pattern generator; Chronic; Chronic Disease; Efferent Pathways - physiology; Electric Stimulation; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electromyography; Female; Human; Humans; Interlimb reflexes; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Leg - innervation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Nervous system; Neurology; Reaction Time - physiology; Spinal Cord - physiopathology; Stroke; Stroke - physiopathology; Sub-acute; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; NP; non-paretic to paretic (extremity); P; Interlimb reflexes; analysis of variance; ANOVA; P–NP; paretic; Sub-acute; EMG; Human; maximal peak-to-peak M-wave; Stroke; motor threshold; non-paretic; MT; paretic to non-paretic (extremity); Central pattern generator; Chronic; electromyography; M-max; maximum voluntary contraction; NP–P; SEM; MVC; standard error of the mean; Reflex; Nervous system diseases; Obstacle; Tibial nerve; Coordination; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Cardiovascular disease; Projection; Stimulus intensity; Spine disease; Muscle contraction; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Electrodiagnosis; Ipsilateral; Central nervous system disease; Response latency; Cerebrovascular disease
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.07.033

Highlights ► Short-latency crossed spinal interlimb reflexes are impaired differently in sub-acute and chronic stroke patients. ► The reflexes are impaired from the non-paretic to paretic and paretic to non-paretic extremities in both patient groups suggesting that projections to the paretic and non-paretic extremities modulate the response. ► The inappropriate modulation of these reflexes may result in an inability to appropriately modify the muscle activity of the opposite leg subsequently reducing the ability to quickly avoid obstacles (which may contribute to falls).