Suppressive effects on human flexion reflex induced by different pressure intensities and stimulation sites.
10.3777/jjsam.48.10
- VernacularTitle:屈曲反射を指標とした刺激部位と刺激強度による抑制効果の違いの検討
- Author:
Kazunori ITOH
;
Kentaro MURASE
;
Kaoru OKADA
;
Kenji KAWAKITA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
tender point;
flexion reflex;
diffuse noxious inhibitory controls;
analgesia;
human subjects
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
1998;48(1):10-16
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Different intensities of pressure were applied to various tender or non-tender points and the suppressive effects on the flexion reflex were examined in 21 healthy humans (18-26 years), who gave informed consent. The sural nerve was stimulated transcutaneously with trains of 5 pulses at intervals of 13 sec (1.05-1.10x T, T : threshold) and evoked EMGs were recorded from the biceps femoralis muscle. Tender points in the contralateral forearm were detected by careful palpation, and conditioning pressure stimulation was applied at variousintensities by a push-pull gauge for 78 sec. Pressure applied to tender points induced slightly greater suppression of evoked EMGs than that to non-tender points (C statistics : time series analysis), although the difference was not significant (group comparison). Pressure intensities of ten and 50 % of pain tolerance pressure seemed to be adequate for suppression of EMGs in both tender and non-tender points. These results suggest that suppression of flexion reflex by pressure application in humans may be mediated by tactile and pain-related afferent fibers and the importance of adequate stimulus intensity for the induction of analgesic effects.
