TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute effects of high-frequency microfocal vibratory stimulation on the H reflex of the soleus muscle. A double-blind study in healthy subjects
AU - Alfonsi, Enrico
AU - Paone, Paolo
AU - Tassorelli, Cristina
AU - de Icco, Roberto
AU - Moglia, Arrigo
AU - Alvisi, Elena
AU - Marchetta, Lucky
AU - Fresia, Mauro
AU - Montini, Alessandra
AU - Calabrese, Marzia
AU - Versiglia, Vittorio
AU - Sandrini, Giorgio
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - This study in healthy subjects examined the effects of a system delivering focal microvibrations at high frequency (Equistasi®) on tonic vibration stimulus (TVS)- induced inhibition of the soleus muscle H reflex. Highfrequency microvibrations significantly increased the inhibitory effect of TVS on the H reflex for up to three minutes. Moreover, Equistasi® also significantly reduced alpha-motoneuron excitability, as indicated by the changes in the ratio between the maximumamplitude H reflex (Hmax reflex) and the maximumamplitude muscle response (Mmax response); this effect was due to reduction of the amplitude of the H reflex because the amplitude of muscle response remained unchanged. The present findings indicate that Equistasi® has a modulatory effect on proprioceptive reflex circuits. Therefore, Equistasi® might interfere with some mechanisms involved in both physiological and pathophysiological control of movement and of posture.
AB - This study in healthy subjects examined the effects of a system delivering focal microvibrations at high frequency (Equistasi®) on tonic vibration stimulus (TVS)- induced inhibition of the soleus muscle H reflex. Highfrequency microvibrations significantly increased the inhibitory effect of TVS on the H reflex for up to three minutes. Moreover, Equistasi® also significantly reduced alpha-motoneuron excitability, as indicated by the changes in the ratio between the maximumamplitude H reflex (Hmax reflex) and the maximumamplitude muscle response (Mmax response); this effect was due to reduction of the amplitude of the H reflex because the amplitude of muscle response remained unchanged. The present findings indicate that Equistasi® has a modulatory effect on proprioceptive reflex circuits. Therefore, Equistasi® might interfere with some mechanisms involved in both physiological and pathophysiological control of movement and of posture.
KW - H reflex
KW - High-frequency microvibrations
KW - Tonic vibratory stimulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84953313477&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84953313477&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84953313477
VL - 30
SP - 269
EP - 274
JO - Functional Neurology
JF - Functional Neurology
SN - 0393-5264
IS - 4
ER -