Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Decrease of motoneuron excitability during stretching of the human soleus.

N Guissard1, J Duchateau, L de Montigny

  • 1Laboratory of Biology, University of Brussels, Belgium.

Biomedica Biochimica Acta
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

This study investigated motoneuron (MN) excitability during soleus muscle (Sol) stretching. Findings indicate joint mobilization during stretching is linked to reduced H-reflex, suggesting controlled MN inhibition.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Safety of propofol use for general anaesthesia in Brugada syndrome patients: a 15-year experience.

Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·2025
Same author

Longitudinal associations of light-intensity physical activity with quality of life, functioning and fatigue after colorectal cancer.

Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation·2020
Same author

Influence of lung transplantation on the essential fatty acid profile in cystic fibrosis.

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2020
Same author

Arrhythmogenic response to isoproterenol testing vs. exercise testing in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy patients.

Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·2018
Same author

A Multicentre Trial of Patient specific Rehearsal Prior to EVAR: Impact on Procedural Planning and Team Performance.

European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery : the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery·2017
Same author

The clinical benefits of long-term supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in cystic fibrosis patients - A pilot study.

Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2016

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Understanding motoneuron (MN) excitability is crucial for motor control.
  • The soleus muscle (Sol) is a key muscle in posture and locomotion.
  • Investigating reflex responses during stretching provides insights into neural control mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine changes in motoneuron (MN) excitability during various slow stretching techniques of the human soleus muscle (Sol).
  • To analyze the relationship between joint mobilization and the Hofmann (H) reflex during stretching protocols.
  • To elucidate the inhibitory mechanisms controlling MN pool excitability during sustained stretching maneuvers.

Main Methods:

  • Recording of Tendon (T) and Hofmann (H) reflexes during slow passive stretching (SS) of the soleus muscle (Sol).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of H-reflex during SS, contraction-relaxation (CR) preceded by maximal isometric contraction, and antagonistic contraction (AC) stretching.
  • Quantification of maximal joint mobilization during each stretching modality.

    • Main Results:

    • Maximal joint mobilization during SS, CR, and AC stretching correlated with a decrease in the H-reflex amplitude.
    • The H-reflex reduction indicates a modulation of motoneuron excitability during stretching.
    • The observed inhibition of MN excitability was transient, lasting only for the duration of the stretching maneuver.

    Conclusions:

    • Joint mobilization during slow soleus muscle (Sol) stretching is actively controlled by inhibitory mechanisms acting on the motoneuron (MN) pool.
    • This neural inhibition is essential for regulating muscle stretch and preventing excessive joint movement.
    • The findings highlight the dynamic interplay between sensory feedback and motor output during stretching exercises.