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27-09-2024 | Research Article

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation phase-dependently modulates spinal reciprocal inhibition induced by pedaling in healthy individuals

Authors: Keita Takano, Tomofumi Yamaguchi, Kano Kikuma, Kohei Okuyama, Natsuki Katagiri, Takatsugu Sato, Shigeo Tanabe, Kunitsugu Kondo, Toshiyuki Fujiwara

Published in: Experimental Brain Research

Abstract

Reciprocal inhibition (RI) between leg muscles is crucial for smooth movement. Pedaling is a rhythmic movement that can increase RI in healthy individuals. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) stimulates spinal neural circuits by targeting the afferent fibers. Pedaling with simultaneous tSCS may modulate the plasticity of the spinal neural circuit and alter neural activity based on movement and muscle engagement. This study investigated the RI changes after pedaling and tSCS and determined the phase of pedaling in which tSCS should be applied for optimal RI modulation in healthy individuals. Eleven subjects underwent three interventions: pedaling combined with tSCS during the early phase of lower extension (phase 1), pedaling combined with tSCS during the late phase of lower flexion (phase 4) of the pedaling cycle, and pedaling combined with sham tSCS. The RI from the tibialis anterior to the soleus muscle was assessed before, immediately after, 15 min, and 30 min after the intervention. RI increased immediately after phase 4 and pedaling combined with sham tSCS, whereas no changes were observed after phase 1. These results demonstrate that tSCS modulates RI changes induced by pedaling in a stimulus phase-dependent manner in healthy individuals. However, the mechanism involved in this intervention needs to be explored to achieve higher efficacy.

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Title: Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation phase-dependently modulates spinal reciprocal inhibition induced by pedaling in healthy individuals
Authors: Keita Takano
Tomofumi Yamaguchi
Kano Kikuma
Kohei Okuyama
Natsuki Katagiri
Takatsugu Sato
Shigeo Tanabe
Kunitsugu Kondo
Toshiyuki Fujiwara
Publication date: 27-09-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Experimental Brain Research
Print ISSN: 0014-4819
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1106
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-024-06926-4

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Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation phase-dependently modulates spinal reciprocal inhibition induced by pedaling in healthy individuals

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