Mechanical and Neural Changes in Plantar-flexor Muscles After Spinal Cord Injury in Humans

Overview

Journal Spinal Cord

Specialty Neurology

Date 2015 Feb 11

PMID 25665544

Citations 2

Authors

K Yaeshima

D Negishi

S Yamamoto

T Ogata

K Nakazawa

N Kawashima

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To determine the effect of injury duration on plantar-flexor elastic properties in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and spasticity.

Setting: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Japan.

Methods: A total of 16 chronic SCI patients (age, 33±9.3 years; injury localization, C6-T12; injury duration, 11-371 months) participated. Spasticity of the ankle plantar-flexors was assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The calf circumference and muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius and soleus were assessed using tape measure and ultrasonography. In addition, the ankle was rotated from 10° plantar-flexion to 20° dorsiflexion at 5 deg s(-1) with a dynamometer, and the ankle angle and torque were recorded. After normalizing the data (the initial points of angle and torque were set to zero), we calculated the peak torque and energy. Furthermore, angle-torque data (before and after normalization) were fitted with a second- and fourth-order polynomial, and exponential (Sten-Knudsen) models, and stiffness indices (SISOP, SIFOP, SISK) and AngleSLACK (the angle at which plantar-flexor passive torque equals zero) were calculated. The stretch reflex gain and offset were determined from 0-10° dorsiflexion at 50, 90, 120 and 150 deg s(-1). After logarithmic transformation, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated.

Results: MAS, calf circumference, MG thickness, peak torque and SIFOP significantly decreased with injury duration (r log-log=-0.63, -0.69, -0.63, -0.53 and -0.55, respectively, P<0.05). The peak torque and SIFOP maintained significant relationships even after excluding impacts from muscle morphology.

Conclusion: Plantar-flexor elasticity in chronic SCI patients decreased with increased injury duration.

Citing Articles

Bilateral and asymmetrical contributions of passive and active ankle plantar flexors stiffness to spasticity in humans with spinal cord injury.

Chen B, Sangari S, Lorentzen J, Nielsen J, Perez M J Neurophysiol. 2020; 124(3):973-984.

PMID: 32432501 PMC: 7509290. DOI: 10.1152/jn.00044.2020.

Lower extremity muscle structure in incomplete spinal cord injury: a comparison between ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Smith A, Jakubowski K, Wasielewski M, Lee S, Elliott J Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2017; 3:17004.

PMID: 28382216 PMC: 5322259. DOI: 10.1038/scsandc.2017.4.

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