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J Physiol Volume 550, Number 2, 617-630, July 15, 2003 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.043331
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J Physiol (2003), 550.2, pp. 617-630
© Copyright 2003 D 2003 The Physiological Society
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.043331

Effects of leg muscle tendon vibration on group Ia and group II reflex responses to stance perturbation in humans

Marco Bove *, Antonio Nardone † and Marco Schieppati †‡

* Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, † Posture and Movement Laboratory, Division of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Scientific Institute of Veruno, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation (IRCCS) and ‡ Human Movement Laboratory (CSAM), Salvatore Maugeri Foundation (IRCCS), Scientific Institute of Pavia and Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy

Stretching the soleus (Sol) muscle during sudden toe-up rotations of the supporting platform in a standing subject evokes a short-latency response (SLR) and a medium-latency response (MLR). The aim of the present investigation was to further explore the afferent and spinal pathways mediating the SLR and MLR in lower limb muscles by means of tendon vibration. In seven subjects, toe-up or toe-down rotations were performed under: (1) control, (2) continuous bilateral vibration at 90 Hz of Achilles' tendon or tibialis anterior (TA) tendon, and (3) post-vibration conditions. Sol and TA background EMG activity and reflex responses were bilaterally recorded and analysed. Toe-up rotations induced SLRs and MLRs in Sol at average latencies of 40 and 66 ms, respectively. During vibration, the latency of both responses increased by about 2 ms. The area of the SLR significantly decreased during vibration, regardless of the underlying background activity, and almost returned to control value post-vibration. The area of Sol MLR was less influenced by vibration than SLR, the reduction being negligible with relatively high background activity. However, contrary to SLR, MLR was even more reduced post-vibration. Toe-down rotations induced no SLR in the TA, while a MLR was evoked at about 81 ms. The area of TA MLR decreased slightly during vibration but much more post-vibration. SLRs and MLRs were differently affected by changing the vibration frequency to 30 Hz: vibration had a negligible effect on the SLR, but still produced a significant effect on the MLR. The independence from the background EMG of the inhibitory effect of vibration upon the SLR suggests that vibration removes a constant amount of the Ia afferent input. This can be accounted for by either presynaptic inhibition of group Ia fibres or a 'busy-line' phenomenon. The differential effect of vibration on SLRs and MLRs is compatible with the notions that spindle primaries have a higher sensitivity to vibration than secondaries, and that group II afferent fibres are responsible for the production of the MLR. The decrease of MLRs but not SLRs after vibration is discussed in terms of an interaction between peripheral and central drive on group II interneurones in order to produce sufficient EMG activity to maintain a given postural set.



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