| The hypothesis that "....Ib inhibition of soleus (SOL) motoneurons from medial gastrocnemius (MG) afferents is enhanced following spinal cord injury (SCI) because of the loss of descending inhibition of spinal "Ib" interneurons...." was investigated in three stages.;In part 1, the MG nerve was stimulated using surface electrodes. The stimulus facilitated the SOL H reflex in SCI, but not normal subjects. In part 2, the MG nerve was stimulated with near nerve electrodes with the overlying skin anaesthetized. The stimulus inhibited the SOL H reflex in both normal and SCI subjects. In part 3, cutaneous afferents 8 cm anterior to the MG nerve were stimulated using surface electrodes. There was no change in the SOL H reflex in either group.;The hypothesis is not supported. Ib inhibition is similar in normal and SCI subjects. Cutaneous afferents immediately over the MG nerve may account for the facilitation of the H reflex seen in SCI subjects in part 1. |
