Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 20, 2026
Terminal H-reflex Measurements in Mice
Published on: June 16, 2022
Inhibitory casting decreases a vibratory inhibition index of the H-reflex in the spastic upper limb
M K Childers1, S S Biswas, G Petroski
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia 65212, USA.
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that application of an inhibitory cast to the spastic upper limb will decrease a vibratory inhibition index (VII) of the H-reflex in the spastic upper limb.
Design:
Prospective, nonrandomized, open-label trial.
Setting:
University tertiary care center.
Participants:
Eight adults with upper limb spasticity.
Intervention:
Fiberglass cast application spanning the wrist to the upper arm.
Main Outcome Measure:
The amplitude of the H-reflex with and without continuous 60Hz vibration to the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis was measured, and the VII was calculated using the formula: [H-reflex amplitude (vibrated)/H-reflex amplitude (control)] x 100%.
Results:
Mean VII decreased from baseline (70.7) on day 1 (67.6, p = .699), day 2 (55.9, p =.066), and day 3 (43.5, p = .033) of casting, and increased on day 4 (89.9, p = .146) after removal of the cast.
Conclusion:
Findings lend support to the idea that during application of an inhibitory cast motor neuron excitability is decreased in the spastic upper limb.
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