2010.03.31 - Randy Trumbower - Neural contributions of limb use following CNS injury
- Wants to translate basic science to clinical pertaining to restoration of limb function
- Neural structures -> mechanisms -> limb functions -> interventions -> Neural structures
- Spinal mechanisms - stretch reflexes and Ia afferents
- What structure controls reflexes?
- Stroke patients' reflexes
- short latency exaggerated
- long latency attenuated
- Perturbation applied: admittance/displacement controlled
- Paretic and non-paretic arms both have missing long-latency reflex in stroke
- Need a link between abnormal reflexes and whole limb impairment
- Flexion: shoulder up and hand toward mouth
- Extension: shoulder down head away from body
- Stroke patients required fewer patterns to recreate EMG
- Similar activation patterns but one pattern is used much more than the others in stroke
- Intermittent Hypoxia
- Use it to increase sensorimotor performance
- Potential mechanism is that it helps aid plasticity