Compensation of human stance perturbations: selection of the appropriate electromyographic pattern

Perturbations of stance evoke purposive EMG patterns which are directed to hold the body's centre of gravity over the feet. Dorsiflexing rotation of the feet is followed by a monosynaptic stretch reflex response in the gastrocnemius muscle, succeeded by a late compensatory tibialis anterior activation. Backward translation of the feet elicits only a compensatory polysynaptic EMG response in the gastrocnemius muscle, while an early gastrocnemius response is absent. The amplitude modulation of the gastrocnemius H-reflex has been investigated during the early part of the two modes of perturbation. Only during translational perturbation a progressive decrease in gastrocnemius H-reflex amplitude started within 5 ms after onset of displacement. The degree of the reduction in amplitude in the former perturbation was dependent on the displacement velocity. Only the contact forces (torques) differed between the two modes of perturbations within the first 10 ms after onset of perturbations. It is suggested that signals from pressure receptors within the body are responsible for the early change in H-reflex amplitude during translational perturbations and it is concluded that the simplest spinal reflex is under very rapid and powerful moment-to-moment control by changes in peripheral feedback. In view of a strong reciprocal modulation of monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflex responses, the later purposive EMG responses may be determined by early changes in presynaptic inhibition of group I afferents.