J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  1998 Dec;22(6):1185-1189.

Vibratory Inhibition of the H-reflex in Brain Injured Patients

• Choi E

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate and compare the vibratory inhibition of H-reflex in the subjects with and without brain injury. METHOD: H-reflex and the vibratory inhibition of H-reflexes were evaluated in thirty two limbs in subjects without brain injury and twenty two limbs in the brain injury patients. The maximal amplitudes of H-reflexes were recorded before and while vibrating the Achilles tendon. The ratio of the two trials (vibratory maximal H-reflex amplitude / previbratory maximal H-reflex amplitude) was defined as 'H-reflex vibratory inhibition'. H-reflex vibratory inhibition was correlated to the spasticity (Asworth scale).
RESULTS
The mean values of H-reflex vibratory inhibition were 0.5361+/-0.0373 in the control group and 0.7539+/-0.0543 in the brain injured group. There was a significant difference between two groups. H-reflex vibratory inhibition tends to increase as the spasticity increases.
CONCLUSION
The vibratory inhibition of H-reflex was significantly decreased in the brain injured patients than in the controls. We conclude that the H-reflex vibratory inhibition can be used in the evaluation of the spasticity.

Keyword

H-reflex; Vibration; Brain injury

MeSH Terms

Achilles Tendon
Brain Injuries
Brain*
Extremities
H-Reflex*
Humans
Muscle Spasticity
Vibration