Abstract
One of the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) starting positions increases the amplitude of Hoffman-reflex (H-reflex). This phenomenon is induced by arousal of brain cortex due to the result of EMG reaction time study, muscle tension study and EEG study. According to the previous literature, rotated position stimulates the proprioceptor effectively.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of rotated position of the upper and lower extremity on H-reflex of soleus muscle.
Eleven healthy male subjects participated in this study. Subjects were positioned internal rotated and external rotated on right and left shoulder joint and right hip joint. The H-reflex amplitude at rotated position was compared with at control position.
The amplitude of the H-reflex increased when the right or the left shoulder joint located internal or external rotated position, but not at another position. These results suggest that the excitability level of alpha-motoneuron was increased by the rotated position of the upper extremity. The increase in the H-reflex due to the PNF position indicated that the influential factor was the rotated position of the upper extremity.
