title: Flexor reflexes elicited by magnetic and electric stimulation of the sural nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have investigated whether magnetic stimulation of the sural nerve can evoke a flexor reflex recorded from the ipsilateral short head of the biceps femoris muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sural nerve was subjected to magnetic stimulation as well as by single-pulse electrical stimulation in healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 87% of the participants, a reflex response was elicited from the short head of biceps femoris muscle by magnetic stimulation of the sural nerve. In terms of latency and amplitude, this reflex response was similar to the flexor reflex response evoked from the same muscle by single-pulse electrical stimulation of the sural nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that flexor reflexes can easily be evoked from the short head of the biceps femoris muscle by magnetic stimulation of the sural nerve. The late component of the flexor reflex may not only be elicited via nociceptive afferents but may also involve non-nociceptive afferents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Akdeniz University Medical School Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. ferah@akdeniz.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ferah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kizilay
authors.forename: Rengin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bilgen
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aydin Gungor
authors.forename: Hilmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Cumhur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ertekin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult