Between-day reliability of upper extremity H-reflexes

Ann Marie Stowe; Laura Hughes-Zahner; Antonis Pantakis Stylianou; Sheila Schindler-Ivens; Barbara Marie Quaney

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.01.031

Between-day reliability of upper extremity H-reflexes

Ann Marie Stowe, Laura Hughes-Zahner, Antonis Pantakis Stylianou, Sheila Schindler-Ivens, Barbara Marie Quaney

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Scopus 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	317-323
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Volume	170
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.01.031
State	Published - May 30 2008

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Rebecca Maletsky, Laura Herbelin, RN, Virginia Barnes, Danielle Keenan, PT, and Abby Leising for their technical assistance. We would also like to thank The Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc., Magistro Award 2006, for funding of this study.

Keywords

Between-day reliability
H-reflex
Healthy adults
Upper extremity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience

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10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.01.031

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title = "Between-day reliability of upper extremity H-reflexes",

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.",

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author = "Stowe, {Ann Marie} and Laura Hughes-Zahner and Stylianou, {Antonis Pantakis} and Sheila Schindler-Ivens and Quaney, {Barbara Marie}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Rebecca Maletsky, Laura Herbelin, RN, Virginia Barnes, Danielle Keenan, PT, and Abby Leising for their technical assistance. We would also like to thank The Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc., Magistro Award 2006, for funding of this study.",

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AU - Hughes-Zahner, Laura

AU - Stylianou, Antonis Pantakis

AU - Schindler-Ivens, Sheila

AU - Quaney, Barbara Marie

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Rebecca Maletsky, Laura Herbelin, RN, Virginia Barnes, Danielle Keenan, PT, and Abby Leising for their technical assistance. We would also like to thank The Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc., Magistro Award 2006, for funding of this study.

PY - 2008/5/30

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N2 - 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.

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Between-day reliability of upper extremity H-reflexes

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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