Soleus H-reflex modulation after motor incomplete spinal cord injury: effects of body position and walking speed

To examine position-dependent (semireclined to standing) and walking speed-dependent soleus H-reflex modulation after motor incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI).

Twenty-six patients with motor incomplete SCI (mean: 45 +/- 15 years) and 16 noninjured people (mean: 38 +/- 14 years).

Soleus H-reflexes were evoked by tibial nerve stimulation. Patients were tested in semireclined and standing positions (experiment 1) and in midstance and midswing positions (experiment 2).

H-reflexes were significantly greater after SCI in all positions compared with noninjured people (P < 0.05). Position-dependent modulation from semireclined to standing (normally observed in noninjured people) was absent after SCI. In SCI patients, H-reflex modulation was not significantly different at 1.2 m/s compared with 0.6 m/s treadmill walking speed; in noninjured people, H-reflex modulation was significantly greater at 1.2 m/s compared with 0.6 m/s treadmill walking speed. There was a significant positive correlation between modified Ashworth scores, a clinical measure of spasticity and soleus H-reflex amplitudes tested in all positions. A significant negative correlation was also found between H-reflexes in standing and midstance positions and the amount of assistance patients required to walk.

An improvement in position-dependent and walking speed-dependent reflex modulation after SCI may indicate functional recovery. Future studies will use H-reflex testing to track changes as a result of therapeutic interventions.