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.
authors: Landon Center on Aging, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3599 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 1005, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
authors: Ann Marie
authors: AM
authors: Stowe
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Hughes-Zahner
authors: Antonis Pantakis
authors: AP
authors: Stylianou
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: Schindler-Ivens
authors: Barbara Marie
authors: BM
authors: Quaney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*