Abstract
The influence of the Jendrassik maneuver on the generation of the locomotor rhythmicity was studied under conditions of the “suspension” of legs in a horizontal plane. It was shown that during Jendrassik’s maneuver, passive movements of one limb trigger stepping with the participation of both limbs. The Jendrassik’s maneuver also notably facilitates the vibration-induced locomotion. The kinematics of the evoked stepping movements did not differ from the kinematics of the voluntary “air-stepping,” reciprocal electromyographic activity being observed in antagonistic muscles. It seems likely that the generation of cyclic movements during the Jendrassik maneuver occurs due to the activation of the same stepping automatism as in normal stepping. The experimental results suggest that an increase in the level of tonic readiness of the tonogenic CNS structures, which participate in realization of the locomotor program, is a necessary condition for the activation of the spinal mechanisms of the stepping generation.
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Gurfinkel’, V.S., Levik, Y.S., Kazennikov, O.V. et al. Jendrassik’s maneuver creates conditions for triggering involuntary stepping. Hum Physiol 26, 187–192 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02760090
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02760090