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Spinal and corticospinal pathways are differently modulated when standing at the bottom and the top of a three-step staircase in young and older adults

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the modulation of spinal (group Ia afferents) and corticospinal pathways when young (22.7 ± 1.3 years) and older adults (72.2 ± 7.9 years) stood at the bottom and at the top of a three-step staircase equipped with force platforms.

Method

Changes in submaximal H-reflex amplitude (H 50) and slope of the H-reflex input–output relation (spinal pathway), and in amplitude of motor-evoked potentials (MEP) triggered by transcranial magnetic stimulation (corticospinal pathway) at two intensities (1.1× and 1.2× motor threshold) were recorded in soleus when subjects stood as steady as possible downstairs and upstairs. The centre of pressure (CoP) excursion was analyzed in the time and frequency domains in both conditions.

Results

Regardless of age, the mean CoP velocity was greater when standing upstairs (11.1 ± 3.5 mm s−1) than downstairs (9.0 ± 2.3 mm s−1; p = 0.002). The CoP power spectral density (PSD) in the 0–0.5 Hz band was greater upstairs than downstairs (+18.4%; p = 0.03) whereas PSD in the 2–20Hz frequency band was lesser (−41%) upstairs than downstairs (p < 0.001), regardless of age. In both groups, the H 50 amplitude (−30.6%; p < 0.001) and slope of H-reflex input–output relation (−10.2%; p = 0.002) were lesser when standing upstairs than downstairs, whereas no significant difference was observed in MEP amplitude and silent period between balance conditions (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

These results indicate a lower dependence on spinal pathway to control soleus motor neurones when standing upstairs than downstairs accompanied by a change in postural control. This suggests that healthy older adults preserved their ability to adjust postural control to environmental demands.

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Abbreviations

aEMG:

Average value of the rectified EMG

CoP:

Centre of pressure

MEP:

Motor-evoked potential

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

SP:

Silent period

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

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Acknowledgements

Johanna Johannsson is currently supported by a grant of the “Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR)” of Luxembourg. The authors acknowledge Sarah Collignon for her assistance in data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Biology and Neurophysiology, Faculty for Motor Sciences, ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 808, route de Lennik, CP 640, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Johanna Johannsson, Jacques Duchateau & Stéphane Baudry

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  1. Johanna Johannsson
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  2. Jacques Duchateau
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  3. Stéphane Baudry
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Correspondence to Stéphane Baudry.

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Communicated by Benedicte Schepens.

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Johannsson, J., Duchateau, J. & Baudry, S. Spinal and corticospinal pathways are differently modulated when standing at the bottom and the top of a three-step staircase in young and older adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 1165–1174 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3603-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3603-3

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