Low levels of anterior tibial loading enhance knee extensor reflex response characteristics

  • Sandra J. Shultz
  • , Thomas C. Windley
  • , Anthony S. Kulas
  • , Randy J. Schmitz
  • , Tamara C. Valovich McLeod
  • , David H. Perrin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We examined whether neuromuscular reflexes were altered with anterior loads applied to the tibio-femoral joint. A ligament testing device was modified by attaching a reflex hammer to a steel mounted frame to illicit a patellar tendon tap, while anterior directed loads displaced the tibia on the femur. Five trials were acquired while anterior-directed loads (20, 50, 100 N; counterbalanced) were applied to the posterior tibia between 20 N pre (20 N Pre) and post (20 N Post) baseline conditions on two different days. Surface electromyography (sEMG) recorded mean quadriceps (Q) and hamstring (H) reflex time (R Time = ms) and reflex amplitude (R Amp = %MVIC). A load cell on the anterior tibia measured the timing (KE Time = ms) and amplitude (KE Amp = N) of the knee extension force, and was used to calculate electromechanical delay (EMD = ms) and peak knee extension moment (KE Mom = N m/kg). Data from 19 recreationally active subjects revealed good to excellent response consistency between test days and between baseline conditions for R Time, R Amp, KE Time and KE Amp. With anterior tibial loading, R Time was faster at 50 N vs. 20 N Post, and R Amp was greater at 20 N Pre vs. 20 N Post (Q and H) and at 50 N vs. 100 N (Q only). KE Mom was greater at 20 N Pre and 50 N vs. 20 N Post, and EMD was shorter at 50 N vs. 20 N, 20 N Pre and 20 N Post. These results suggest that knee extensor reflex responses are enhanced with low (50 N) but not moderate (100 N) anterior loading of the knee. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61-71
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2005

Keywords

  • Knee extensor moment
  • Proprioception
  • Stretch reflex
  • Surface electromyography
  • Tendon tap
  • Tibiofemoral displacement

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