Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesco Budini, Monica Christova
Summary: The present study used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to explore the time course of corticospinal excitability during 30 seconds of static stretching (SS). The results showed an increased corticospinal excitability in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle during the static lengthened phase of a muscle stretch.
Article
Immunology
Ayane Kamamuta, Yuki Takagi, Mizuki Takahashi, Kana Kurihara, Hibiki Shibata, Kanata Tanaka, Katsuhiko Hata
Summary: COVID-19's long-term effects and rare long-term post-vaccination side effects have psychiatric and physical impacts on recovered patients, and effective treatments are scarce. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can aid recovery in these patients, but its effectiveness is reduced in patients with severe fatigue.
Article
Neurosciences
Kai Lon Fok, Naotsugu Kaneko, Shirin Tajali, Kei Masani
Summary: This study aims to suppress the spinal H-Reflex using paired associative stimulation (PAS) through spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP). However, the results suggest that relying solely on STDP may be insufficient to inhibit the soleus H-Reflex.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Physiology
James L. Nuzzo, David S. Kennedy, Harrison T. Finn, Janet L. Taylor
Summary: The contemporary procedure for assessing voluntary activation of the knee extensor muscles with TMS is invalid, but a modified procedure may improve validity in select individuals meeting rigorous eligibility criteria.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Akiyoshi Matsugi
Summary: Since individuals with cerebellar lesions often exhibit hypotonia, the cerebellum may play a role in regulating muscle tone and spinal motoneuron pool excitability. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the cerebellum has been proposed as a neurophysiological method for testing its impact on spinal excitability. This literature review examined the methods and mechanisms by which cerebellar TMS modulates spinal excitability.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Timothy S. Pulverenti, Morad Zaaya, Monika Grabowski, Ewelina Grabowski, Md Anamul Islam, Jeffrey Li, Lynda M. Murray, Maria Knikou
Summary: This study investigated the neurophysiological changes in spinal cord injury patients undergoing locomotor training with combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcutaneous thoracolumbar spinal (transspinal) stimulation. The results showed that TMS-transspinal stimulation promotes functional reorganization of spinal networks during stepping, while transspinal-TMS stimulation induces less pronounced effects. Both stimulation protocols resulted in beneficial changes in motor activity and motoneuron depolarization during assisted stepping.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Timothy S. Pulverenti, Gabriel S. Trajano, Benjamin J. C. Kirk, Vanesa Bochkezanian, Anthony J. Blazevich
Summary: The study found that acute plantar flexor muscle stretching led to significant decreases in maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion torque and soleus electromyographic activity. While reductions in soleus late response amplitudes were detected, they were not correlated with changes in maximal electromyographic activity, torque or tendon reflex amplitudes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Junji Nakamura, Yohei Okada, Tomoyuki Shiozaki, Hiroaki Tanaka, Kozo Ueta, Koki Ikuno, Shu Morioka, Koji Shomoto
Summary: The vestibulospinal tract (VST) is essential for controlling antigravity muscles on the same side of the body, and the balance between the left and right VST excitability is crucial for human postural control. This study investigated the reliability and laterality of using galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) to increase the soleus H-reflex in healthy adults, finding no significant difference in the degree of facilitation between the left and right sides, and a moderate positive correlation with the mediolateral position of the center of pressure during standing postural control.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Gianluca Vernillo, Chiara Barbi, John Temesi, Gaia Giuriato, Fabio Giuseppe Laginestra, Camilla Martignon, Federico Schena, Massimo Venturelli
Summary: This study aimed to assess the reliability of muscle relaxation induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The results showed that TMS can reliably measure changes in knee-extensor muscle relaxation rates, both in unfatigued and fatigued conditions.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristina Sharlo, Irina Lvova, Olga Turtikova, Sergey Tyganov, Vitaliy Kalashnikov, Boris Shenkman
Summary: Recent studies have shown that support afferentation plays a key role in controlling postural muscle function, structure and phenotype. Lack of support afferentation can negatively affect muscle performance and life quality, while simulating support afferentation can maintain muscle fiber characteristics.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2022)
Review
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Kazandra M. Rodriguez, Riann M. Palmieri-Smith, Chandramouli Krishnan
Summary: After ACL reconstruction, there is increased excitability in spinal reflex pathways and reduced excitability in corticospinal pathways, leading to decreased quadriceps strength and voluntary activation.
JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Trevor S. Barss, David F. Collins, Dylan Miller, Amit N. Pujari
Summary: The study found that upper limb vibration inhibits cutaneous and H-reflex transmission without affecting corticospinal excitability, possibly through increased presynaptic inhibition. This increased inhibition of spinal pathways with ULV may have significant implications for improving rehabilitation for individuals with spasticity.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Ibrahim Bilir, Ayhan Askin, Ilker Sengul, Aliye Tosun
Summary: High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex did not show any significant beneficial effect on pain, stiffness, fatigue, quality of life, mood, and cognitive state over sham stimulation.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Benjamin C. Conner, Alyssa M. Spomer, Safoura Sadegh Pour Aji Bishe, Katherine M. Steele, Zachary F. Lerner
Summary: This study found that individuals with cerebral palsy retain the ability to modulate lower-limb reflexes in response to increased task complexity, and less refined neural control during walking appears to be related to deficits in reflex modulation.
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Gianluca Vernillo, Arash Khassetarash, Guillaume Y. Millet, John Temesi
Summary: The study demonstrates that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can reliably assess muscle relaxation rates and is more sensitive and suitable than traditional femoral nerve stimulation for observing fatigue-induced changes in muscle relaxation in knee extensors.
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Shauna Dudley-Javoroski, Jinhyun Lee, Richard K. Shields
Summary: This study aims to investigate the correlations between aging, cognitive impairment, and quality of life (QOL) in individuals with and without spinal cord injury (SCI). The results showed that individuals with SCI had lower global QOL, particularly in domains related to physical function and symptoms, but higher QOL in positive affect/well-being and resilience. There were no significant differences in cognitive function between SCI and non-SCI individuals, but strong correlations between age and cognition were absent in SCI. Significant correlations between cognition and QOL were prevalent for non-SCI individuals but not for those with SCI.
PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Michael Petrie, Kristin Johnson, Patrick McCue, Richard K. Shields
Summary: FMRI studies show that neuromuscular electrical stimulation can enhance learning by modulating the excitability of the somatosensory cortex. The electrical stimulation group demonstrated additional learning beyond practice during a weight-bearing task.
JOURNAL OF MOTOR BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Leslie R. Morse, Edelle C. Field-Fote, Jose Contreras-Vidal, Linda J. Noble-Haeusslein, Matthew Rodreick, Richard K. Shields, Michael Sofroniew, Robert Wudlick, Jeanne M. Zanca
Summary: Over the past decade, the spinal cord injury research community has made significant advances and hosted a conference to discuss how to continue advancing research for the benefit of patients. The conference brought together stakeholders such as researchers, clinicians, patients, and industry partners to break down communication barriers and support collaboration to promote spinal cord injury research and clinical options.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ellen van der Plas, Laurie Gutmann, Dan Thedens, Richard K. Shields, Kathleen Langbehn, Zhihui Guo, Milan Sonka, Peggy Nopoulos
Summary: Quantitative muscle MRI serves as a sensitive marker for early muscle pathology and disease progression in adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Patients with DM1 exhibit reduced muscle volume, increased T2 relaxometry, and fat fraction compared to healthy adults, even in the absence of clinical motor symptoms. The rate of change in muscle volume and T2 relaxometry and fat fraction is faster in DM1 patients compared to controls, indicating more rapid disease progression.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Timothy R. Koscik, Ellen van der Plas, Laurie Gutmann, Sarah A. Cumming, Darren G. Monckton, Vincent Magnotta, Richard K. Shields, Peggy C. Nopoulos
Summary: The study found that white matter integrity in the brain is significantly related to grip strength and fine motor skills in DM1 patients. Fractional anisotropy was the strongest predictor of grip strength, while radial diffusivity predicted fine motor skills. Systemic white matter degradation may mediate the relationship between DM1 progression and genetic burden with motor outcomes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Stacey L. DeJong, Jayden A. Bisson, Warren G. Darling, Richard K. Shields
Summary: This study aimed to develop methods for assessing corticospinal divergence and muscle coupling using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The researchers found that the number of muscles responding to TMS and the degree of coactivation increased with intensity, while correlations of MEP amplitudes varied among different muscle pairs, possibly quantifying different levels of muscle coupling.
Article
Orthopedics
Michael A. Petrie, Eric B. Taylor, Manish Suneja, Richard K. Shields
Summary: Physical therapists develop patient-centered exercise prescriptions to address the various stressors in individuals' health. This report summarizes factors specific to spinal cord injury that need to be considered in precision prescription of muscle activity. It also presents a genomic and epigenomic analysis of muscle signaling pathways during different types of electrically induced exercise.
Editorial Material
Orthopedics
Richard K. Shields
Article
Orthopedics
Richard K. Shields, Shauna Dudley-Javoroski
Summary: Epigenetic processes regulate gene expression by tagging DNA, affecting individual health and disease. New research shows that non-biological factors such as social stress and poverty can trigger epigenetic adaptations in gene pathways, impacting chronic diseases. Epigenetic processes thus connect the genome with social determinants of health.
Article
Neurosciences
Colleen L. Bringman, Richard K. Shields, Stacey L. DeJong
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the modulation of corticospinal pathway on spinal reflex excitability. The results showed that subthreshold TMS pulses could partially restore the H-reflex when it was almost completely suppressed by lower extremity vibration. This suggests that the disinhibition of the H-reflex by corticospinal signals may play a role in the control of voluntary movement.
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Shauna Dudley-Javoroski, Richard K. Shields
Summary: The Benchmarking in Academic Physical Therapy study develops performance benchmarks for physical therapist education using a survey. The study reveals strengths and challenges in physical therapist education, such as emphasis on problem solving/critical thinking and clinical reasoning, and issues with diversity and student debt.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Timothy R. Koscik, Ellen van der Plas, Jeffrey D. Long, Stephen Cross, Laurie Gutmann, Sarah A. Cumming, Darren G. Monckton, Richard K. Shields, Vincent Magnotta, Peggy C. Nopoulos
Summary: This study compared the changes in white matter microstructure, functional measures, and clinical symptoms in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1. The results showed that indices of white matter health were associated with functional performance and could accurately reflect disease progression. These findings are crucial for the design of clinical trials.
NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Richard K. Shields, Manish Suneja, Bridget E. Shields, Josef N. Tofte, Shauna Dudley-Javoroski
Summary: This study examines whether the average educational debt for healthcare graduates in the United States can be supported by entry-level salaries, and explores whether trainees from minoritized backgrounds have higher educational debt than their peers in physical therapy.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Michael A. Petrie, Kristin A. Johnson, Olga Dubey, Richard K. Shields
Summary: Exercise is an effective medication for managing glucose control issues, but healthcare providers' recommendation timing does not align with best practice suggestions.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Amy L. Kimball, Michael A. Petrie, Patrick M. Mccue, Kristin A. Johnson, Richard K. Shields
Summary: After spinal cord injury (SCI), prolonged sitting and inactivity can lead to changes in body composition, such as increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) thickness, which is associated with impaired glucose tolerance. This study suggests that VAT may serve as an important indicator of leanness and that mobility methods may influence glucose tolerance for individuals with SCI.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jaakko Vallinoja, Timo Nurmi, Julia Jaatela, Vincent Wens, Mathieu Bourguignon, Helena Maenpaa, Harri Piitulainen
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of lesions related to spastic diplegic cerebral palsy on functional connectivity. Using multiple imaging modalities, the researchers found enhanced functional connectivity in the sensorimotor network of individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, which was not correlated with hand coordination performance.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Francesca Ginatempo, Nicola Loi, John C. Rothwell, Franca Deriu
Summary: This study comprehensively investigated sensorimotor integration in the cranial-cervical muscles of healthy adults and found that the integration of sensory inputs with motor output is profoundly influenced by the type of sensory afferent involved and the functional role played by the target muscle.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
