Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral Palsy

We recently showed that impaired gait function in adults with cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with reduced rate of force development in ankle dorsiflexors. Here, we explore potential mechanisms. We investigated the suppression of antagonist excitability, calculated as the amount of soleus H-reflex...

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Main Authors: Svend Sparre Geertsen, Henrik Kirk, Jens Bo Nielsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/1265143
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author Svend Sparre Geertsen
Henrik Kirk
Jens Bo Nielsen
author_facet Svend Sparre Geertsen
Henrik Kirk
Jens Bo Nielsen
author_sort Svend Sparre Geertsen
collection DOAJ
description We recently showed that impaired gait function in adults with cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with reduced rate of force development in ankle dorsiflexors. Here, we explore potential mechanisms. We investigated the suppression of antagonist excitability, calculated as the amount of soleus H-reflex depression at the onset of ankle dorsiflexion compared to rest, in 24 adults with CP (34.3 years, range 18–57; GMFCS 1.95, range 1–3) and 15 healthy, age-matched controls. Furthermore, the central common drive to dorsiflexor motoneurons during a static contraction in the two groups was examined by coherence analyses. The H-reflex was significantly reduced by 37% at the onset of dorsiflexion compared to rest in healthy adults (P<0.001) but unchanged in adults with CP (P=0.91). Also, the adults with CP had significantly less coherence. These findings suggest that the ability to suppress antagonist motoneuronal excitability at movement onset is impaired and that the central common drive during static contractions is reduced in adults with CP.
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spelling doaj-art-b7819237ae6540e7ae3e2cd7443c69512025-02-03T06:13:14ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432018-01-01201810.1155/2018/12651431265143Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral PalsySvend Sparre Geertsen0Henrik Kirk1Jens Bo Nielsen2Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkWe recently showed that impaired gait function in adults with cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with reduced rate of force development in ankle dorsiflexors. Here, we explore potential mechanisms. We investigated the suppression of antagonist excitability, calculated as the amount of soleus H-reflex depression at the onset of ankle dorsiflexion compared to rest, in 24 adults with CP (34.3 years, range 18–57; GMFCS 1.95, range 1–3) and 15 healthy, age-matched controls. Furthermore, the central common drive to dorsiflexor motoneurons during a static contraction in the two groups was examined by coherence analyses. The H-reflex was significantly reduced by 37% at the onset of dorsiflexion compared to rest in healthy adults (P<0.001) but unchanged in adults with CP (P=0.91). Also, the adults with CP had significantly less coherence. These findings suggest that the ability to suppress antagonist motoneuronal excitability at movement onset is impaired and that the central common drive during static contractions is reduced in adults with CP.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/1265143
spellingShingle Svend Sparre Geertsen
Henrik Kirk
Jens Bo Nielsen
Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral Palsy
Neural Plasticity
title Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral Palsy
title_full Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral Palsy
title_fullStr Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral Palsy
title_full_unstemmed Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral Palsy
title_short Impaired Ability to Suppress Excitability of Antagonist Motoneurons at Onset of Dorsiflexion in Adults with Cerebral Palsy
title_sort impaired ability to suppress excitability of antagonist motoneurons at onset of dorsiflexion in adults with cerebral palsy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/1265143
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AT henrikkirk impairedabilitytosuppressexcitabilityofantagonistmotoneuronsatonsetofdorsiflexioninadultswithcerebralpalsy
AT jensbonielsen impairedabilitytosuppressexcitabilityofantagonistmotoneuronsatonsetofdorsiflexioninadultswithcerebralpalsy