Interlimb coordination of posture in patients with spastic paresis. Impaired function of spinal reflexes

Activation of leg musculature on both sides following a unilateral displacement was studied during stance on separate see-saws, or on stable force-measuring platforms, in patients with spastic hemiparesis and paraparesis. During balancing the movements on the spastic side were damped and the degree of muscle activation reduced. Whereas in healthy subjects the tibialis anterior muscles of both sides were activated, following a unilateral displacement, with the same strength and latency (see-saws 55 ms, platforms 85 ms), in hemispastic patients the EMG responses were delayed (by about 20 to 30 ms) and of reduced strength on the spastic leg, irrespective of whether the unaffected or the spastic side was displaced. In addition, the compensatory movements on the spastic side were damped in both conditions, although the amplitude of displacement was the same bilaterally. Although there was no correlation between the delay and the reduction in EMG response, the latter was correlated with the severity of paresis. In patients with spastic paraparesis quite similar results were obtained with delayed and reduced EMG responses on both sides. It is concluded that in spasticity the impaired regulation of quick compensatory movements is due to a dysfunction of a spinal interneuronal system by which the early EMG responses are mediated. This could be explained by loss of supraspinal control. In addition to the impaired neural activation of leg muscles, changes in the mechanical properties of muscle can be assumed to contribute to the damped movements on the spastic side.