Vibration training after chronic spinal cord injury: Evidence for persistent segmental plasticity

Chu-Ling Yen; Colleen L McHenry; Michael A Petrie; Shauna Dudley-Javoroski; Richard K Shields

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2017.03.019

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Vibration training after chronic spinal cord injury: Evidence for persistent segmental plasticity

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Vibration training after chronic spinal cord injury: Evidence for persistent segmental plasticity

Chu-Ling Yen, Colleen L McHenry, Michael A Petrie, Shauna Dudley-Javoroski and Richard K Shields

Neuroscience letters, Vol.647, pp.129-132

04/24/2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.03.019

PMCID: PMC5518623

PMID: 28315725

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/5518623View

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Abstract

H-reflex paired-pulse depression is gradually lost within the first year post-SCI, a process believed to reflect reorganization of segmental interneurons after the loss of normal descending (cortical) inhibition. This reorganization co-varies in time with the development of involuntary spasms and spasticity. The purpose of this study is to determine whether long-term vibration training may initiate the return of H-reflex paired-pulse depression in individuals with chronic, complete SCI. Five men with SCI received twice-weekly vibration training (30Hz, 0.6g) to one lower limb while seated in a wheelchair. The contra-lateral limb served as a within-subject control. Paired-pulse H-reflexes were obtained before, during, and after a session of vibration. Untrained limb H-reflex depression values were comparable to chronic SCI values from previous reports. In contrast, the trained limbs of all 5 participants showed depression values that were within the range of previously-reported Acute SCI and Non-SCI H-reflex depression. The average difference between limbs was 34.98% (p=0.016). This evidence for the return of H-reflex depression suggests that even for people with long-standing SCI, plasticity persists in segmental reflex pathways. The spinal networks involved with the clinical manifestation of spasticity may thus retain adaptive plasticity after long-term SCI. The results of this study indicate that vibration training may hold promise as an anti-spasticity rehabilitation intervention.

Vibration

Humans

Middle Aged

H-Reflex

Male

Muscle, Skeletal - innervation

Young Adult

Leg - innervation

Neuronal Plasticity

Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology

Adult

Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation

Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology

Leg - physiopathology

Chronic Disease

Details

Title: Subtitle: Vibration training after chronic spinal cord injury: Evidence for persistent segmental plasticity
Creators: Chu-Ling Yen - Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Colleen L McHenry - Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Michael A Petrie - Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Shauna Dudley-Javoroski - Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Richard K Shields - Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States. Electronic address: richard-shields@uiowa.edu
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Neuroscience letters, Vol.647, pp.129-132
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.03.019
PMID: 28315725
PMCID: PMC5518623
NLM abbreviation: Neurosci Lett
ISSN: 0304-3940
eISSN: 1872-7972
Publisher: Ireland
Grant note: R01 HD039445 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD084645 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD082109 / NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD062507 / NICHD NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 04/24/2017
Academic Unit: Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Record Identifier: 9984047873602771

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