Functionality of the contralateral biceps femoris reflex response during human walking

TY - GEN

T1 - Functionality of the contralateral biceps femoris reflex response during human walking

AU - Stevenson, Andrew James Thomas

AU - Geertsen, Svend Sparre

AU - Sinkjaer, Thomas

AU - Nielsen, Jens Bo

AU - Mrachacz-Kersting, Natalie

N1 - Conference code: 2

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - In this study we examined the functionality of the contralateral biceps femoris (cBF) reflex response following ipsilateral knee extension joint rotations during the late stance phase of the gait cycle [1]. Stevenson et al. [1] proposed that the cBF reflex acts to slow the forward progression of the body in order to maintain dynamic equilibrium during walking. Therefore, we hypothesized that if we suddenly slowed the treadmill participants were walking on, the cBF reflex would be inhibited because the necessity to break the forward progression of the body would be decreased. Conversely, if we suddenly sped up the treadmill, the breaking requirement would be greater and the cBF reflex would be larger. We found this to be the case when the treadmill velocity was suddenly changed either 100 ms or 50 ms prior to the onset of the ipsilateral knee perturbations. The cBF reflex was unchanged when the treadmill velocity was altered concurrently or 50 ms after knee perturbation onset. These results, together with the finding that the cBF reflex response is under some cortical control [1], strongly suggest a functional role for the cBF reflex during walking that is adaptable to the environmental situation.

AB - In this study we examined the functionality of the contralateral biceps femoris (cBF) reflex response following ipsilateral knee extension joint rotations during the late stance phase of the gait cycle [1]. Stevenson et al. [1] proposed that the cBF reflex acts to slow the forward progression of the body in order to maintain dynamic equilibrium during walking. Therefore, we hypothesized that if we suddenly slowed the treadmill participants were walking on, the cBF reflex would be inhibited because the necessity to break the forward progression of the body would be decreased. Conversely, if we suddenly sped up the treadmill, the breaking requirement would be greater and the cBF reflex would be larger. We found this to be the case when the treadmill velocity was suddenly changed either 100 ms or 50 ms prior to the onset of the ipsilateral knee perturbations. The cBF reflex was unchanged when the treadmill velocity was altered concurrently or 50 ms after knee perturbation onset. These results, together with the finding that the cBF reflex response is under some cortical control [1], strongly suggest a functional role for the cBF reflex during walking that is adaptable to the environmental situation.

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-319-08072-7_106

DO - 10.1007/978-3-319-08072-7_106

M3 - Article in proceedings

SN - 978-3-319-08071-0

T3 - Biosystems and Biorobotics

SP - 765

EP - 773

BT - Replace, Repair, Restore, Relieve - Bridging Clinical and Engineering Solutions in Neurorehabilitation

A2 - Jensen, Winnie

A2 - Andersen, Ole Kæseler

A2 - Akay, Metin

PB - Springer VS

CY - Heidelberg

T2 - Replace, Repair, Restore, Relieve – Bridging Clinical and Engineering Solutions in Neurorehabilitation Biosystems & Biorobotics

Y2 - 24 June 2014

ER -