Intersession reliability of H:M ratio is greater than the H-reflex at a percentage of M-max.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intersession reliability of the soleus Hoffmann reflex using two methods of normalizing motoneuron excitability over time. Ten subjects reported to the laboratory on two separate occasions. Soleus Hoffmann reflexes and muscle responses were evaluated at maximal amplitude ratios and at stimuli producing approximately 20% of the maximal muscle response. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2, 1) found strong intersession reliability for both measurement techniques. Assessing motoneuron activation using maximal amplitude ratios demonstrated a robust ICC of 0.979 compared to an ICC of 0.882 when the Hoffmann reflex was assessed at approximately 20% of the maximal muscle response.
Hoch
Matthew C
MC
Ohio University Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, Division of Athletic Training, School of Recreation and Sport Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA. mh281806@ohio.edu
Krause
Bentley A
BA
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult