Between-day reliability of upper extremity H-reflexes.

J Neurosci Methods

Landon Center on Aging, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3599 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 1005, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.

Published: May 2008

H-reflexes are useful for evaluating the group Ia monosynaptic reflex excitability in the lower and upper extremities (UEs). However, there is no established between-day protocol for measuring H-reflex excitability in the UE extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL). The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable protocol to measure the H-reflex excitability between-days for the ECRL, and the antagonist muscle, the flexor carpi radialis (FCR). H-reflex recruitment curves were recorded from eight healthy young subjects over 3 consecutive days in both muscles. Variables associated with the H-reflex excitability were measured: (a) maximum amplitude (Hmax); (b) gain (HGN); (c) threshold (HTH, visHTH, and sdHTH). All variables were normalized with respect to the M-wave. Within individual muscles, there were no statistically significant differences between-days for the group (p>0.05) and variables showed fair to good reliability (ICC=0.57-0.99). This method of reliably measuring H-reflex excitability within UE muscles will be useful for investigating the effects of pathology and rehabilitation on monosynaptic reflexes.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.01.031DOI Listing

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