Author/Editor		Minassian, K; Jilge, B; Rattay, F; Pinter, MM; Gerstenbrand, F; Binder, H; Dimitrijević, MR
Title		Effective spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for evoking stepping movement of paralyzed lower limbs: study of posterior root muscle reflex responses
Type		članek
Source		In: Karčnik T, Veltink P, Jaeger R, editors. IFESS 2002. Proceedings of the 7th annaual conference of the International functional electrical stimulation society; 2002 Jun 25-29; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Faculty of electrical engineering,
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 167-8
Language		eng
Abstract		In this study we examined EMG responses of lower limb muscles to repetitive electrical stimulation of the human lumbar cord isolated from brain control. We found that the muscle activity elicited at low frequencies (2 Hz) are monosynaptic posterior root muscle reflexes. A sustained train of stimuli at higher frequencies (16 Hz or more) establishes longer spinal reflex pathways involving interneuronal networks, the monosynaptic EMG response is progressively replaced by a second response with longer but also constant latency. When the frequency is further increased to 30-50 Hz, a locomotor-like EMG activity can be induced, and the amplitude and occurrence of the second response progressively augments. During the bursting phases of rhythmical EMG activity the amplitude of the first monosynaptic response is completely suppressed. Our study suggests, that the driving input from brain structures can be replaced artificially by a non patterned input via the posterior roots and interpreted by the lumbar interneuronal network to respond with a patterned, rhythmical activity.
Descriptors		SPINAL CORD INJURIES ELECTRIC STIMULATION REFLEX, MONOSYNAPTIC EPIDURAL SPACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY