title: Stimulus pulse-width influences H-reflex recruitment but not H(max)/M(max) ratio.
abstract: It has been proposed that pulse-widths of 0.5-1.0 ms should be used to evoke H-reflexes in humans; however, the influence of pulse-width on H-reflex recruitment over a range of stimulus intensities has not been well characterized. We constructed soleus H-reflex vs. M-wave recruitment curves using 50, 200, 500, and 1000 micros pulses in 12 subjects. In contrast to previous findings, changing the pulse-width did not significantly alter maximal H-reflex (H(max)) or M-wave (M(max)) amplitudes or H(max)/M(max) ratios. In fact, the 1000 micros pulses resulted in larger H-reflexes when the M-wave was 5% M(max); smaller M-waves at H(max); and lower H-reflex thresholds compared with 50 micros pulses. These differences reflect a leftward shift in the H-reflex vs. M-wave recruitment curve when using wide vs. narrow pulses and, combined with no change in the H(max)/M(max) ratios, suggest that factors other than antidromic collision in motor axons limit H(max). These results support the idea that 1,000 micros pulses should be used to evoke H-reflexes and suggest that wider pulses may be beneficial to generate contractions with a greater reflex contribution when using neuromuscular stimulation for rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Human Neurophysiology Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lagerquist
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*