title: Cycling regimen induces spinal circuitry plasticity and improves leg muscle coordination in individuals with spinocerebellar ataxia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in individuals with and without spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and to evaluate the effect of a 4-week leg cycling regimen on functional coordination and reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in patients with SCA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial with repeated measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory in a general hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with SCA (n=20) and without SCA (n=20).
  
  
  METHODS
  A single 15-minute session of leg cycling and a 4-week cycling regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with SCA (n=20) and without SCA (n=20) underwent disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition tests of the soleus muscles before and after a single 15-minute cycling session. Individuals with SCA were randomly assigned to either participate in 4 weeks of cycling training (n=10) or to receive no training (n=10). The disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition and International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) scores were evaluated in both groups after 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with SCA showed abnormally strong resting values of disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition (P<.001) and impaired inhibition modulation capacity after a single 15-minute session of cycling (P<.001). The inhibition modulation capacity was restored (P<.001), and the ICARS scores improved significantly (pre: 13.5±9.81, post: 11.3±8.74; P=.046) after 4 weeks of cycling training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 4-week cycling regimen can normalize the modulation of reciprocal inhibition and functional performance in individuals with SCA. These findings are applicable to the coordination training of patients.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: yjchang@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors: Ya-Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Chieh
authors: CC
authors: Chou
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Wan-Ting
authors: WT
authors: Huang
authors: Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center and Section of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Chin-Song
authors: CS
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Alice M
authors: AM
authors: Wong
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: mjhsu@kmu.edu.tw.
authors: Miao-Ju
authors: MJ
authors: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D020754:Spinocerebellar Ataxias / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Incoordination; Plasticity; Rehabilitation; Spinocerebellar ataxias