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. 2023 Jan 5:13:1036122.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1036122. eCollection 2022.

The effect of loss of foot sole sensitivity on H-reflex of triceps surae muscles and functional gait

Fangtong Zhang  1 , Mengzi Sun  2   3 , Feng Qu  1 , Kelsey Lewis  2 , Jung Hun Choi  4 , Qipeng Song  5 , Li Li  2
Affiliations

The effect of loss of foot sole sensitivity on H-reflex of triceps surae muscles and functional gait

Fangtong Zhang et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of foot sole insensitivity on the outcomes of the triceps surae muscle H-reflex and functional gait. Material and Methods: People with peripheral neuropathy were recruited and divided into two groups: people with more (n = 13, 73.3 ± 4.3 years old) or less (n = 10, 73.5 ± 5.3) sensitive tactile sensation. Their monofilament testing scores were 9.0 ± 1.5 (range: 7-10) and 2.3 ± 2.4 (range: 0-6) out of 10, respectively. H-reflex of the triceps surae muscles during quiet standing and their relationship with functional gait, 6 min walking distance (6MWD), and timed-up-and-go duration (TUG), were compared between groups. Results: No significant difference was detected for H-reflex parameters between the groups. The less sensitive group showed reduced (p < .05) functional gait capacity compared to the other group, 38.4 ± 52.7 vs. 463.5 ± 47.6 m for 6MWD, and 9.0 ± 1.5 vs. 7.2 ± 1.1s for TUG, respectively. A significant correlation (p < .05), worse functional gait related to greater H/M ratio, was observed in the less sensitive group, not the other group. Conclusion: Although there was no significant H-reflex difference between the groups, more pronounced tactile sensation degeneration affected functional gaits and their relationship with H-reflex.

Keywords: H-reflex; foot sole sensitivity; functional gait; motor control; triceps surae muscles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Exemplar EMG signal of a stimulus of triceps surae muscles within 50 milliseconds before the start of stimulus and after the end of the H-wave.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
(A) H/M ratio (solid) and H-index (dashed) of the MG, LG, and SO muscles were compared. There were no differences between groups in H/M ratio and H-index (p > .05). H/M ratio of SO was significantly greater than that of both MG (p < .001, d = .232) and LG (p < .001, d = .098). No difference in H-index was detected among different muscles (B) MST and LST groups were compared for both 6MWD (solid, p = .006, partial η2 = .318) and TUG (dash, p = .011, partial η2 = .282). The MST group walked farther (6MWD) and fast (TUG) than the LST group. *Indicates a significant difference between muscles (left) or groups (right).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
A significant linear relationship between the H/M ratio of SO and MG [(A) only in MST group] and the linear relationships between the H/M ratio of SO and LG [(B) among both MST and LST groups] were detected.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
The linear relationship between the H-index of MG and LG with only significant correlation was detected in the MST group.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Significant linear relationships were only observed in LST between the H/M ratio of LG and 6MWD (A), and TUG (B), and of SO and TUG (C). Note: the range of SO H/M ratio was much greater than that of the LG.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
The significant linear relationship between TUG and the H-index of MG in the MST group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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