Vol. 41 No. 3 (1981), Articles
Vol. 41 No. 3 (1981)

Effects of exercise on reflexes in paraplegic monkeys

Articles
J Yu
Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Department of Anatomy and Institute of Neurological Sciences University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
C N Liu
Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Department of Anatomy and Institute of Neurological Sciences University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
W W Chambers
Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Department of Anatomy and Institute of Neurological Sciences University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
W P Chen
Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Department of Anatomy and Institute of Neurological Sciences University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
G P McCouch
Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Department of Anatomy and Institute of Neurological Sciences University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Abstract

Eight monkeys, after complete spinal cord transection at the midthoracic level, were placed in a supine position and an exercise program was given to one hindlimb but not the other. Within 3 days, the exercised limb showed more muscle tone and more active cutaneous and proprioceptive reflexes. The difference increased progressively throughout the observation period of 11 to 36 days. These results suggest an important role of afferent influence on the recovery of spinal shock. The exercise program probably protects the neuromuscular apparatus from deterioration and thus maximize the recovery.
PDF

References

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 1981 Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.