Abstract
[Purpose] To neurophysiologically clarify the muscle tone inhibitory effect induced by active individual muscle stretching (AID). [Subjects] The subjects were 40 left-side limbs of healthy male students. [Methods] The condition of the soleus muscle was assessed using the Hmax/Mmax ratio calculated from evoked EMG H-wave and M-wave maximum values under both the AID and no-stretch conditions, and compared between the two conditions, and between before and after AID. [Results] No significant differences were found in the Hmax/Mmax ratio between the conditions, but compared to before AID, a significant decrease in the ratio was seen after AID. [Conclusion] The results suggest that AID acts to suppress the excitability of spinal motor neurons.
