The Effects of Cervical Traction on the Soleus H Reflex in Stroke Patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical traction on the soleus H reflex amplitude in stroke patients. Cervical traction with intensity of 3 kgw was performed on six stroke patients. The soleus H reflex was evoked before, during, and after the cervical traction. All subjects showed smaller H reflex amplitudes in the second and third minutes after traction than before the traction. The results suggested that cervical traction with intensity of 3 kgw inhibited the soleus H reflex amplitude several minutes after traction in stroke patients.