Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of mechanical stimulation of sole support zones on the H-reflex characteristics under conditions of support unloading

  • Published:
Human Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of mechanical stimulation of the sole support zones on the state of the m. soleus moto-neuron pool in humans have been studied under 7-day support unloading conditions, which were simulated using a dry immersion (DI) model. The excitability of the m. soleus motoneuron pool was estimated by the H-reflex amplitude normalized by the maximal M-wave amplitude before, during, and after immersion exposure. The results were compared for two groups of volunteers, i.e. a control group, which was subjected only to immersion exposure, and a test group, in which mechanical stimulation in locomotion regimens was applied daily during DI. The relative H-reflex amplitude increased during immersion in the control group, whereas such alterations were not detected in the test group.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kozlovskaya, I.B., Kreidich, Yu.V., Oganov, V.S., and Koserenko, O.P., Pathophysiology of motor functions in prolonged manned space flights, Acta Astronaut., 1981, vol. 8, nos. 9–10, p. 1059.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Reschke, M.F., Anderson, D.J., and Homick, J.L., Vestibulospinal reflexes as a function of microgravity, Science, 1984, vol. 225, p. 212.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lambertz, D., Goubel, F., Kaspranski, R., and Pérot, C., Influence of long-term spaceflight on neuromechanical properties of muscles in humans, J. Appl. Physiol., 2003, vol. 94, no. 2, p. 490.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kozlovskaya, I.B., Aslanova, I.F., and Kirenskaya, A.V., The effect of support unloading on characteristics of motor control systems activity, in Motor Control, New York: Plenum, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Saenko, I.V., Saenko, D.G., and Kozlovskaya, I.B., Effect of 120-day antiorthostatic hypokinesia on characteristics of tendon reflexes, Aviakosmich. Ekol. Med., 2000, vol. 34, no. 4, p. 13.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Berger, M., Lechner-Steinleitner, S., Kozlovskaya, I., et al., Neurological aspects in real and simulated spaceflight, 10 Years Space Biomedical Research and Development in Austria, Hinghofer-Szalkay, H., Ed., Wien: Facultas Verlag, 2001, p. 19.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Burlatchkova, N.I., Kozlovskaya, I.B., Gurskaya, N.Z., and Markova, E.D., Characteristics of tracking and programed movements in various disturbances of cerebello-cortical system, Modern Aspects of Cerebellar Functions, Erevan: Acad. Sci. Arm. SSR, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kozlovskaya, I., Dmitrieva, I., Grigorieva, L., et al., Gravitational mechanisms in the motor system: Studies in real and simulated weightlessness, Stance and Motion: Facts and Concepts, Gurfinkel, V., Ioffe, M.E., Massion, J., and Roll, J.P., Eds., New York: Plenum, 1988, p. 37.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Saenko, I.V. and Saenko, D.G., Role of proprioceptive deprivation in microgravity-related hyperreflexia, Sbornik tezisov XVIII s”ezda Fiziologicheskogo Obshchestva im. I.P. Pavlova (Proc. XVIII Conf. of the Pavlov Physiological Society), Kazan, 2001, p. 570.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Edgerton, V.R. and Roy, R.R., Neuromuscular adaptations to actual and simulated spaceflight, Handbook of Physiology. Environmental Physiology, Bethesda, MD: Am. Physiol. Soc, 1996, vol. 1,chapt. 32, p. 721.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Egawa, K., Oida, Y., Kitabatake, Y., et al., Effect of weight bearing on the soleus H-reflex during upright standing under the head-out water immersion condition in humans, Environmental Medicine: Annual Report of the Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, 2003, vol. 47, p. 81.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sayenko, I.V., Miller, T.F., and Kozlovskaya, I.B., The effect of the support afferentation on the parameters of the electromyographic activity and muscle tone of postural muscles in support unloading conditions, 57th AIAA International Astronautic Congress, IAC, 2006, p. 148.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Tyapkina, O., Volkov, E., Nurullin, L., et al., Resting membrane potential and Na+,K+-ATPase of rat fast and slow muscles during modeling of hypogravity, Physiol. Res., 2009, vol. 58, no. 4, p. 599.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Glashev, M.M., Razgovorov, I.A., Mikhailova, E.V., et al., Electrophysiological and contractile characteristics of m. soleus in rat and Mongolian gerbil upon functional unloading, Vestn. St.-Peterburg. Univ., Ser. 3: Biol., 2011, no. 4, p. 73.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Knikou, M., Plantar cutaneous afferents normalize the reflex modulation patterns during stepping in chronic human spinal cord injury, J. Neurophysiol., 2010, vol. 103, no. 3, p. 1304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bastani, A., Hadian, M.R., Talebian, S., et al., Modulation of the ipsilateral and contralateral H reflexes following ipsilateral mechanical pressure of the foot in normal subjects, Electromyogr. Clin. Neurophysiol., 2010, vol. 50, no. 5, p. 251.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Sayenko, D.G., Vette, A.H., Obata, H., et al., Differential effects of plantar cutaneous afferent excitation on soleus stretch and H-reflex, Muscle Nerve, 2009, vol. 39, no. 6, p. 761.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Dorofeev, I.Y., Avelev, V.D., Shcherbakova, N.A., and Gerasimenko, Y.P., The role of cutaneous afferents in controlling locomotion evoked by epidural stimulation of the spinal cord in decerebrate cats, Neurosci. Behav. Physiol, 2008, vol. 38, no. 7, p. 695.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kavounoudias, A., Roll, R., and Roll, J.P., Foot sole and ankle muscle inputs contribute jointly to human erect posture regulation, J. Physiol., 2001, vol. 532, no. 3, p. 869.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Aimonetti, J.M., Hospod, V., Roll, J.P., and Ribot-Ciscar, E., Cutaneous afferents provide a neuronal population vector that encodes the orientation of human ankle movements, J. Physiol., 2007, vol. 580, no. 2, p. 649.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kavounoudias, A., Roll, J.P., Anton, J.L., et al., Proprio-tactile integration for kinesthetic perception: An fMRI study, Neuropsychologia, 2008, vol. 46, no. 2, p. 567.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Grigor’ev, A.I., Kozlovskaya, I.B., and Shenkman, B.S., Role of support afferents in the organization of the tonic muscle system, Ross. Fiziol. Zh. im. I.M. Sechenova, 2004, vol. 90, no. 5, p. 508.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Tomilovskaya, E.S., Experiment with 5-day immersion: Objectives, scope, and structure of studies and specific of technical approaches, Aviakosmich. Ekol. Med., 2011, vol. 45, no. 6, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Narici, M.V. and Boer, M.D., Disuse of the musculo-skeletal system in space and on earth, Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 2011, vol. 111, no. 3, p. 403.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sandonà, D., Desaphy, J.F., Camerino, G.M., et al., Adaptation of mouse skeletal muscle to long-term microgravity in the MDS mission, PLoS One, 2012, vol. 7, no. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Cescon, C. and Gazzoni, M., Short term bed-rest reduces conduction velocity of individual motor units in leg muscles, J. Electromyography Kinesiol., 2010, vol. 20, no. 5, p. 860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Miller, T.F., Saenko, I.V., Popov, D.V., et al., Effects of support unloading and stimulation of the support zones of the soles on lateral rigidity and resting electromyogram of shin muscles, Aviakosmich. Ekol. Med., 2010, vol. 44, no. 6, p. 13.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ogneva, I.V., Ponomareva, E.V., Kartashkina, N.L., et al., Decrease of contractile properties and transversal stifness of single fibers in human soleus after 7-day “dry” immersion, Acta Astronaut., 2010, p. 1478.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Duchateau, J., Bed rest induces neural and contractile adaptations in triceps surae, Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 1995, vol. 27, no. 12, p. 1581.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Clark, B.C., Fernhall, B., and Ploutz-Snyder, L.L., Adaptations in human neuromuscular function following prolonged unweighting: I. Skeletal muscle contractile properties and applied ischemia efficacy, J. Appl. Physiol., 2006, vol. 101, no. 1, p. 256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Islamov, R.R., Mishagina, E.A., Tyapkina, O.V., et al., Mechanisms of spinal motoneurons survival in rats under simulated hypogravity on earth, Acta Astronaut., 2011, vol. 68, nos. 9–10, p. 1469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Conway, B.A. and Knikou, M., The action of plantar pressure on flexion reflex pathways in the isolated human spinal cord, Clin. Neurophysiol., 2008, vol. 119, p. 892.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Z. Zakirova.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © A.Z. Zakirova, T.A. Shigueva, E.S. Tomilovskaya, I.B. Kozlovskaya, 2015, published in Fiziologiya Cheloveka, 2015, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 46–52.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zakirova, A.Z., Shigueva, T.A., Tomilovskaya, E.S. et al. Effects of mechanical stimulation of sole support zones on the H-reflex characteristics under conditions of support unloading. Hum Physiol 41, 150–155 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119715020176

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119715020176

Key words

Navigation