Effect of long-term climbing training on cerebellar ataxia: a case series.

Background. Efficient therapy for both limb and gait ataxia is required. Climbing, a complex task for the whole motor system involving balance, body stabilization, and the simultaneous coordination of all 4 limbs, may have therapeutic potential.

Conduction velocity of nerve and muscle fiber action potentials after a space mission or a bed rest.

Objective: The purpose of the present investigation was to study the readaptation of a human muscle after a prolonged stay in microgravity and after a bed rest of several months.

Methods: The surface electromyogram of the soleus muscle was recorded in 6 cosmonauts and 6 bed rest subjects at 5 different torque levels and, in addition, the direct muscle responses (M responses) to supramaximal stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve were also recorded in the bed rest subjects. In a supplementary experiment in normal subjects, M response was recorded with an array of electrodes.