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Arthritis Research & Therapy
Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy 6/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

Quadriceps arthrogenic muscle inhibition: the effects of experimental knee joint effusion on motor cortex excitability

Authors: David Andrew Rice, Peter John McNair, Gwyn Nancy Lewis, Nicola Dalbeth

Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy | Issue 6/2014

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Abstract

Introduction

Marked weakness of the quadriceps muscles is typically observed following injury, surgery or pathology affecting the knee joint. This is partly due to ongoing neural inhibition that prevents the central nervous system from fully activating the quadriceps, a process known as arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI). This study aimed to further investigate the mechanisms underlying AMI by exploring the effects of experimental knee joint effusion on quadriceps corticomotor and intracortical excitability.

Methods

Seventeen healthy volunteers participated in this study. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure quadriceps motor evoked potential area, short-interval intracortical inhibition, intracortical facilitation and cortical silent period duration before and after experimental knee joint effusion. Joint effusion was induced by the intraarticular infusion of dextrose saline into the knee.

Results

There was a significant increase in quadriceps motor evoked potential area following joint infusion, both at rest (P = 0.01) and during voluntary muscle contraction (P = 0.02). Cortical silent period duration was significantly reduced following joint infusion (P = 0.02). There were no changes in short interval intracortical inhibition or intracortical facilitation over time (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The results of this study provide no evidence for a supraspinal contribution to quadriceps AMI. Paradoxically, but consistent with previous observations in patients with chronic knee joint pathology, quadriceps corticomotor excitability increased after experimental knee joint effusion. The increase in quadriceps corticomotor excitability may be at least partly mediated by a decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic inhibition within the motor cortex.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Quadriceps arthrogenic muscle inhibition: the effects of experimental knee joint effusion on motor cortex excitability
Authors
David Andrew Rice
Peter John McNair
Gwyn Nancy Lewis
Nicola Dalbeth
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Arthritis Research & Therapy / Issue 6/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1478-6362
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-014-0502-4

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