This study investigated the effect of circumferential pressure on timing and muscle-response parameters during ballistic ankle plantar flexion in 15 young healthy subjects. Circumferential pressure was provided by an air-splint applied around the lower calf. Data were collected at 1, 3, and 5 min. prior to, during, and following application of pressure. A 3 × 3 repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant increases in premotor and reaction times during application of pressure. There was no main effect for magnitude of muscle activity or motor time. Results support previous studies showing decreases in the excitability of the motor-neuron pool with circumferential pressure and an inverse relationship between excitability and premotor time.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BaylorA. M.BenjuyaN. (1989) H-reflexes during a motor skill acquisition task. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 69, 659–670.
2.
BonnetM. (1981) Comparison of monosynaptic tendon reflexes during preparation for a ballistic movement. Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 21, 353–362.
3.
BruntD.RobichaudJ. A. (in review) Relationship between motoneuron pool excitability and timing and force parameters during ballistic ankle extension.
4.
DemaireC.HonoreH.ConqueryJ. M. (1984) Effects of ballistic and tracking movements on spinal proprioceptive and cutaneous pathways in man. In KornblumS.RequinJ. (Eds.), Preparatory states and processes. New York: Erlbaum. Pp. 201–216.
5.
DemaireC.HonoreH.Le BizecJ. (1989) Specific modulation of the Hoffman reflex cutaneous facilitation during a reaction-time task. Experimental Brain Research, 74, 592–602.
6.
EichenbergerA.RueggD. G. (1984) Relation between the specific H-reflex facilitation preceding a voluntary movement and movement parameters in man. Journal of Physiology, 47, 495–559.
7.
Eke-OkoroS. T. (1982) The H-reflex studies in the presence of alcohol, aspirin, caffeine, force and fatigue. Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 22, 579–589.
8.
FrankJ. S. (1986) Spinal motor preparation in humans. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 63, 361–370.
9.
KornblumS. (1973) Simple reaction time as a race between signal detection and time estimation: A paradigm and a model. Perception & Psychophysics, 13, 108–112.
10.
KukulkaC. G.BeckmanS. M.HolteJ. B. (1986) Effects of intermittent tendon pressure on alpha motoneuron excitability. Physical Therapy, 66, 1091–1094.
11.
KukulkaC. G.HarberichterP. A.MuekschA. E. (1987) Muscle pressure effects on motoneuron excitability, a special communication. Physical Therapy, 67, 1720–1722.
12.
LeoneJ. A.KukulkaC. G. (1988) Effects of tendon pressure on alpha motoneuron excitability in patients with stroke. Physical Therapy, 68, 475–480.
13.
MaryniakO.YaworskiR. (1987) H-reflex: Optimum location of recording electrodes. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 68, 798–801.
14.
MichieP. T.ClarkeA. M.SindenJ. D.GlueL. T. (1976) Reaction time and spinal excitability in a simple reaction time task. Physiological Behavior, 16, 311–315.
15.
MorelliM.SeaborneD. E.SullivanS. J. (1990) Changes in h-reflex amplitude during massage of triceps surae in healthy subjects. Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 12, 55–59.
16.
RiedoR.RueggD. G. (1988) Origin of specific H-reflex facilitation preceding a voluntary movement in man. Journal of Physiology, 387, 371–388.
17.
RobichaudJ. A.AgostinucciJ.VanderLinden D. W. (1992) Effect of circumferential pressure on alpha motoneuron reflex excitability in healthy and CVA subjects. Physical Therapy, 72, 172–185.
18.
SchieppatiM. (1987) The Hoffman reflex: A means of assessing spinal reflex excitability and its descending control in man. Progress in Neurobiology, 28, 335–366.
19.
SemjenA.BonnetM.RequinJ. (1973) Relation between the time-course of Hoffman-reflexes and the foreperiod duration in a reaction-time task. Physiology and Behavior, 10, 1041–1050.
20.
SullivanS. J.WilliamsL. R.SeaborneD. E.MorelliM. (1991) Effects of massage on alpha motoneuron excitability. Physical Therapy, 71, 555–560.
