title: Reciprocal inhibition post-stroke is related to reflex excitability and movement ability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Decreased reciprocal inhibition (RI) of motor neurons may contribute to spasticity after stroke. However, decreased RI is not a uniform observation among stroke survivors, suggesting that this spinal circuit may be influenced by other stroke-related characteristics. The purpose of this study was to measure RI post-stroke and to examine the relationship between RI and other features of stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  RI was examined in 15 stroke survivors (PAR) and 10 control subjects by quantifying the effect of peroneal nerve stimulation on soleus H-reflex amplitude. The relationship between RI and age, time post-stroke, lesion side, walking velocity, Fugl-Meyer, Ashworth, and Achilles reflex scores was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RI was absent and replaced by reciprocal facilitation in 10 of 15 PAR individuals. Reciprocal facilitation was associated with low Fugl-Meyer scores and slow walking velocities but not with hyperactive Achilles tendon reflexes. There was no relationship between RI or reciprocal facilitation and time post-stroke, lesion side, or Ashworth score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased RI is not a uniform finding post-stroke and is more closely related to walking ability and movement impairment than to spasticity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phenomena other than decreased RI may contribute to post-stroke spasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhagchandani
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schindler-Ivens
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology