title: Effect of acute leg cycling on the soleus H-reflex and modified Ashworth scale scores in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: This study examined the effect of a single bout of unloaded leg cycling on the soleus H-reflex and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) in 27 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) who had spasticity of the leg muscles, but were not currently taking anti-spastic medications. The soleus H-reflex and MAS data were collected before and 10, 30, and 60 min after 20 min of unloaded leg cycling and a control condition. The acute bout of unloaded leg cycling resulted in concomitant and prolonged reductions in the soleus H-reflex and MAS scores compared with the control condition. This provides converging evidence for the anti-spastic potential of acute unloaded leg cycling in individuals with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. robmotl@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Snook
authors.forename: Marcus L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hinkle
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors