title: Invariable H-reflex and sustained facilitation of stretch reflex with heightened sympathetic outflow.
abstract: Stretch reflex shows sustained (3-min) increase with heightened sympathetic outflow [Hjortskov N, Skotte J, Hye-Knudsen C, Fallentin N. Sympathetic outflow enhances the stretch reflex response in the relaxed soleus muscle in humans. J Appl Physiol 2005;98:1366-70], but it is unknown if it accompanies a sustained increase in H-reflex. The purpose of the study was to test if there is a sustained facilitation in the H-reflex in the human soleus muscle during a variety of sustained tasks that are known to elevate sympathetic outflow. Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and H- and stretch reflexes in the relaxed soleus muscle were obtained in healthy young adults who performed mental arithmetic, static handgrip exercise, post-handgrip ischemia, and cold stimulation. Each task lasted 3 min with a 3-min rest in between tasks. Data were analyzed for the initial 30 s and entire 3 min of each task. There was a heightened cardiovascular response in all tasks for both durations of analysis. An increase in H-reflex amplitude was not observed for either the initial or entire duration of the analysis. The tasks increased stretch reflex amplitude for both durations of analysis. Invariable H-reflex and sustained facilitation of stretch reflex with heightened sympathetic outflow would imply sympathetic modulation of muscle spindle sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation for Movement Functions, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8555, Japan. k-kami@rehab.go.jp
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamibayashi
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obata
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akai
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shinohara
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D012026:Reflex, Stretch / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult