• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1785-1790
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• 2019

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) causes neurological symptoms by compression of the dura mater and nerve roots. Due to the changed in proprioception inputs that can result in abnormal postural pattern, delayed reaction time, and changed in deep tendon reflex. Objective: To investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on motor neuron excitability and neurological symptoms in patients with LDH. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial (single blind) Methods: Thirty patients with LDH were recruited; they were randomly divided into the balance center stabilization resistance exercise group (n=15) and the Nordic walking group (n=15). Each group underwent their corresponding 20-minute intervention once a day, four times a week, for four weeks. Participants' motor neuron excitability and low back pain were assessed before and after the four-week intervention. Results: There were significant differences in all variables within each group (p<.05). There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the changes of upper motor neuron excitability and pain (p<.05), but not in the changes of lower motor neuron excitability and Korean Oswestry Disability Index. Conclusion: Lumbar stabilization exercises utilizing concurrent contraction of deep and superficial muscles improved low back function in patients with LDH by lowering upper motor neuron excitability than compared to exercises actively moving the limbs. Lumbar stabilization exercises without pain have a positive impact on improving motor neuron excitability.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.37-49
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of spinal motor neuron excitability by cranial electrostimulation(CES). The fifteen Sparague-Dawley adult male rats were assigned to the three groups; GroupI(control), GroupII(low rate CES), GroupIII(high rate CES). Spinal motor neuron excitability was measured to use a computerized H reflex. The results of this study was as follows; M latency, M amplitude and H latency were no significant difference in all groups on repeated measured ANOVA(p>.05) but low rate CES and high rate CES groups were lower than ether group in comparative measurement of H amplitude and Hmax/Mmax ratio(p<.05). These results lead to the conclusion that spinal neuron excitability was influenced by CES. These results suggest that CES had the capability to lower spinal motor neuron excitability used synaptic blockade in spinal segment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.527-534
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• 2010

Purpose : The application of tape to modulation of pain and muscular excitability has become common clinical practice among musculoskeletal physical therapy. However, the techniques of the tape application has been relied on empirical evidence in preference to the neurophysiological evidence. Thus, the mechanism of taping has to be elucidated further. The aim of this study was to determine whether elastic and non-elastic taping across a muscle does indeed change ${\alpha}$-motor neuron excitability. Methods : The study was performed on 10 neurologically healthy adults. Two different types of tape were applied to skin overlying gastrocnemius. The elastic tape stretched up to 120% of its original length but non-elastic tape didn't stretched up of its original length. The tape applied across the direction on thickest part of the gastrocnemius. The ${\alpha}$-motor neuron excitability of the gastrocnemius was assessed using the gastrocnemius H-reflex. The amplitude of the M-wave and H-reflex were measured across three conditions: before tape application, with tape and with the tape removed. Results : No significant changes of the excitability of the ${\alpha}$-motor neuron were obtained across three condition, either in the elastic and non-elastic tape. Conclusion : From the results, I could come to the conclusion that further clinical work will be required.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2017

Background: Automated nerve excitability testing is used to assess various peripheral neuropathies and motor neuron diseases. Comparing these excitability parameters with normal data provides information regarding the axonal excitability properties and ion biophysics in diseased axons. This study measured and compared normal values of axonal excitability parameters in both the distal motor and sensory axons of normal Koreans. Methods: The axonal excitability properties of 50 distal median motor axons and 30 distal median sensory axons were measured. An automated nerve excitability test was performed using the QTRACW threshold-tracking software (Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK) with the TRONDF multiple excitability recording protocol. Each parameter of stimulus-response curves, threshold electrotonus, current-voltage relationship, and recovery cycle was measured and calculated. Results: Our Korean normal data on axonal excitability showed ranges of values and characteristics similar to previous reports from other countries. We also reaffirmed that there exist characteristic differences in excitability properties between motor and sensory axons: compared to motor axons, sensory axons showed an increased strength-duration time constant, more prominent changes in threshold to hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus (TE) and less prominent changes in threshold to depolarizing TE, and more prominent refractoriness and less prominent subexcitability and superexcitability. Conclusions: We report normal data on axonal excitability in Koreans. These data can be used to compare various pathological conditions in peripheral nerve axons such as peripheral neuropathies and motor neuron disease.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES) on the alteration of spinal motor neuron excitability. In this article, I would like to experiment on a standard capacity of clinical electrophysiology, a difference in applying methods and a clinical efficiency of NMES by Nerve conduction velocity. We used normal eight subjects without neuromuscular disease and all subjects participated 3 session, which at least 1 week between session. Participants classified according to each group in Antagonist, Agonist, Antagonist-Agonist by the NMES. The test was measured continuously pre test, post-test, post 20 minute test by EMG including H reflex, F wave, motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV). The following results were obtained; 1. H-reflex latencies and H/M intervals were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). 2. H-reflex amplitudes and H/M ratios were significantly decreased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). In agonist group, H-reflex amplitudes and H/M ratios were more significantly decreased than antagonist group. 3. F-wave latencies were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). F/M intervals were significantly increased in antagonist-agonist group(p<.01). F wave conduction velocities were significantly increased in agonist and antagonist-agonist group(p<.01) but F/M ratios were not significant. 4. MNCV were significantly decreased in agonist(p<.01). These results lead us to the conclusion that agonist and Antagonist-agonist was significantly decreased excitability of spinal motor neuron. Conversely, Antagonist does not decreased. Therefore, A further direction of this study will be to provide more evidence that NMES have an effect on excitability of spinal motor neurons in UMN syndrome.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.278-286
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• 2009

The aims of this study were to determined whether excitability of the $\alpha$-motor neuron is modulated by stretching and this changes were associated with flexibility of the muscle. In this study, $\alpha$-motor neuron excitability was measured by using the Hmax/Mmax ratio of the gastrocnemius H-reflex, and muscle flexibility was measured with the range of motion of the ankle dorsiflexion. The gastrocnemii of 10 healthy volunteers were stretched for 4 minutes(2 minutes stretching, 1 minute rest, and 2 minutes stretching) in each session by manual force. The Hmax/Mmax ratio of the H-reflex, as well as the range of motion of the ankle dosiflexion was measured through four different conditions: before stretching, as soon as after $1^{st}$ stretching, as soon as after $2^{nd}$ stretching and at 48 hours after $2^{nd}$ stretching. Excitability of the $\alpha$-motor neuron was decreased significantly after $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ stretching(p<0.05). Furthermore, the range of the dorsiflexion was increased significantly after $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ stretching(p<0.05). However, the excitability of the $\alpha$-motor neuron and range of the dorsiflexion at 48 hours after $2^{nd}$ stretching were not different from those of before stretching. These results suggest that reduced $\alpha$-motor neuron excitability of the gastrocnemius and increased flexibility of the ankle dorsiflexion would be followed by activation of the type III mechanoreceptor which around the ankle joint and the Golgi tendon organ in the gastrocnemius.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2015

PURPOSE: Low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow to muscle could be an alternative rehabilitation method which avoids the problems associated with conventional high-intensity exercise. However, the mechanism of low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow is not clearly known. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of improvement of muscular function after low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow using H-reflex analysis. METHODS: Twenty one healthy young adults with no medical history of neurological or musculoskeletal disorder voluntarily participated in this study. The ${\alpha}$-motor neuron excitability of the triceps surae was assessed using the H-reflex. The amplitude of the M-wave and H-reflex were measured across three conditions: rest, after low-intensity exercise without restriction of blood flow and after low-intensity exercise with restriction of blood flow. The subjects performed low-intensity ankle plantar flexion exercise at their own pace for one minute without or with transient restriction of blood flow achieved by a sphygmomanometer cuff on popliteal fossa at a pressure of 120mm of mercury(120 mmHg). RESULTS: No significant changes of the excitability of the ${\alpha}$-motor neuron were obtained across three different conditions. CONCLUSION: This study found that low-intensity exercise with transient restriction of blood flow did not influence to ${\alpha}$-motor neuron excitability of the triceps surae. From the results, I could come to the conclusion that further study will be required.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.64-71
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• 2012

Background: It is generally accepted that upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion can alter lower motor neuron (LMN) function by the plasticity of neural circuit. However there have been only few researches regarding the axonal excitability of LMN after UMN injury especially during the acute stage. The aim of this study was to investigate the nerve excitability properties of the LMNs following an acute to subacute supratentorial corticospinal tract lesion. Methods: An automated nerve excitability test (NET) using the threshold tracking technique was utilized to measure multiple excitability indices in median motor axons of 15 stroke patients and 20 controls. Testing of both paretic and non-paretic side was repeated twice, during the acute stage and subacute stage. The protocols calculated the strength-duration time constant from the duration-charge curve, parameters of threshold electrotonus (TE), the current-threshold relationship from sequential sub-threshold current, and the recovery cycle from sequential supra-threshold stimulation. Results: On the paretic side, compared with the control group, significant decline of superexcitablity and increase in the relative refractory period were observed during the subacute stage of stroke. Additionally, despite the absence of statistical significance, a mildly collapsing in ('fanning in') of the TE was found. Conclusions: Our results suggest that supratentorial brain lesions can affect peripheral axonal excitability even during the early stage. The NET pattern probably suggests background membrane depolarization of LMNs. These features could be associated with trans-synaptic regulation of UMNs to LMNs as one of the "neural plasticity" mechanisms in acute brain injury.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.167-174
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• 2008

The application of tape is being widely used for treatment of the musculoskeletal disorders and injury prevention. The techniques of the tape application has been relied on empirical evidence in preference to the neurophysiological evidence. Thus, the mechanism of taping has to be elucidated further. In this study, we assessed the effect of the elastic and non-elastic tape upon the gastrocnemius ${\alpha}$-motor neuron excitability using the gastrocnemius H-reflex. The amplitude of the M-wave and H-reflex were measured across three conditions: before tape application, with tape and with the tape removed. No significant changes of the excitability of the ${\alpha}$-motor neuron were obtained across three condition, either in the elastic and non-elastic tape. This results were quite different with other recent studies, which needs to be explored further.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.499-509
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• 1997

The facial nerve have a long pathway. Thus facial nerve fibers easily involved at any point along their course will lead to a facial palsy of lower motor neuron type and upper motor neuron type. The electrophysiologic examination can evaluate and anticipating that prognosis of facial nerve palsy. The electrophysiologic examination are Nerve Excitability Test(NET), Elecctroneurography(ENG), Electro-myography(EMG), Blink Reflex, and Electrogustometry et.al. The NET is very useful method for assessment of prognosis and distinguish between nerve degeneration and physiological block as early as 72 hour after onset of the facial palsy. And other examination also give objectively information of facial nerve for prognosis and treatment. Treatment goal of physiotherapy are prevent contracture and disuse atrophy of facial muscle with muscle reeducation and strengthening and maintain symmetry facial motion. The treatment better start as early as possible.