Feasibility of the Assessment of the H-Reflex in Adult Dancers and Non-dancers with and without Down Syndrome: a Pilot Study

AbstractThe analysis of monosynaptic Hoffman ’s reflex (H-reflex) involves recording the response to electrical stimulation of Ia-afferent fibers from the muscle spindle. The H-reflex can be used as a probe to study spinal neuronal pathways and mechanisms at rest and during movement in humans. The purpose of this study was to analyze the fea sibility of the assessment of the H-reflex in people with Down syndrome (DS), and to compare it between adult dancers and non-dancers with and without DS. Twenty-five participants were included and divided into four groups (6 non-dancers and 6 dancers with DS and, 7 non-dancers and 6 dancers without DS). The H-reflex was recorded at the level of the soleus muscle in its central area. We analyzed the H response in three different conditions: decubitus prone, static standing position with open eyes and closed eyes. Non-dancers with DS showed a faster H-reflex latency than both groups without DS (allp <  .005). In the present study, we provide evidence of the feasibility of eliciting the H-reflex in adults with DS. Interestingly, the H-reflex was present in decubitus position but not in standing position in most non-dancers with DS and dancers without DS. The data from this study can help to perf orm future research in adults with DS and the development of full-scale studies to analyze this variable in adults with intellectual disability with and without DS.
Source: Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities - Category: Disability Source Type: research