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European Journal of Applied Physiology

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01-12-2014 | Original Article

Reliability of H-reflex in vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles during passive and active isometric conditions

Authors: Valentin Doguet, Marc Jubeau

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 12/2014

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the modulation and reliability of the vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) H-reflexes in both passive and active conditions.

Methods

Recruitment curves of VM and VL H-reflexes and M-waves at rest and during muscle contraction (30 % of maximal voluntary contraction) were performed for 12 healthy males and were then repeated after 1 h, 1 day and 1 week. The maximal H-reflexes of each muscle were normalized to their respective maximal M-waves (H/M ratio) and absolute (CV) and relative (ICC) reliability were calculated.

Results

The H-reflex was potentiated in active compared to passive condition and a higher H-reflex occurrence (12 vs. 10 subjects) and amplitude (≈+150 %) was found for the VM compared to the VL in active condition. The intra- (ICC_hour = 0.97) and inter-day (ICC_day = 0.92; ICC_week = 0.92) reliability was poor for the passive VM H/M ratio due to high within-subject variations (CV_hour = 52.2 %; CV_day = 69.8 %; CV_week = 60.9 %) whereas for the active condition the reliability, especially intra-day, was good (ICC_hour = 0.93 and CV_hour = 12 %; ICC_day = 0.86 and CV_day = 14.5 %; ICC_week = 0.79 and CV_week = 19.7 %).

Conclusions

This study showed differential modulation of the H-reflex between vasti muscles of the quadriceps and a higher occurrence and reliability for the active VM H-reflex. One can therefore conclude that it seems more appropriate to evoke quadriceps VM H-reflex (rather than VL) during an isometric muscle contraction.

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Title: Reliability of H-reflex in vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles during passive and active isometric conditions
Authors: Valentin Doguet
Marc Jubeau
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 12/2014
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2969-8

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Reliability of H-reflex in vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles during passive and active isometric conditions

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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