title: Soleus H-reflex modulation during balance recovery after forward falling.
abstract: Our purpose was to examine the Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) during balance recovery after a simulated forward fall from 2 different inclination angles.
  
  
  
  The soleus H-reflex of 15 healthy adults was measured in 2 different leaning positions (exerting a horizontal force at 15% and 30% of body weight, respectively), with no release (Int0) and at 2 different intervals (Int1, Int2) after the release (∼45 and ∼65 ms, respectively).
  
  
  
  During Int2, the H-reflex, which was evoked before the onset of the soleus electromyography, was significantly higher than the H-reflex induced 20 ms earlier (Int1). No significant difference was observed between Int0 and Int1 and between the 2 leaning positions.
  
  
  
  These findings indicate that Ia afferent input is facilitated before muscle activation during forward falling. This could be important for the timely activation and increased rate of force development required during this task. Muscle Nerve 54: 952-958, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ag. Ioannis, 62110, Serres, Greece. dpatikas@auth.gr.
authors.forename: Dimitrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Patikas
authors.affiliation: Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mersmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohm
authors.affiliation: Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroll
authors.affiliation: Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marzilger
authors.affiliation: Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Adamantios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arampatzis
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: H-reflex; balance recovery; electromyography; falling; human