Reflex assessment of a reciprocal inhibition between bifunctional ago-antagonist muscles.
Neuronal connections between the peroneus longus and the soleus, ago-antagonist bifunctional muscles, were investigated by reflex analysis. The peroneus longus H-reflex, obtained by stimulating the common peroneal nerve, was conditioned by a posterior tibial nerve stimulation. This conditioning stimulus induced an early inhibition of the peroneus longus H-reflex and the degree of inhibition increased with the conditioning stimulus intensity. The soleus H-reflex, solicited by stimulating the posterior tibial nerve, was conditioned by passive adduction movements. These movements were passive quick-release movements achieved by a specific device containing an electromagnet and stiff springs. The passive adduction movement induced both a myotatic reflex in the stretched muscles and an early inhibition of the test soleus H-reflex. This inhibition is most likely due to the activation of the primary spindle afferents of the stretched muscles. Thus we propose an antagonist neuronal scheme between peroneus longus and soleus muscles in spite of their agonism in plantarflexion.
Pérot
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Département de Génie Biologique, URA CNRS 858, Université de Compiègne, Compiègne, France.
Mora
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I
Goubel
F
F