A goal of rehabilitation after spinal cord injury is to restore mobility and mitigate common sequalae such as spasticity. The fact that neural circuitry in the spinal cord can functionally coordinate muscles without supraspinal control has prompted interventions intended to promote plasticity of remaining circuitry. Gains in mobility remain limited, however, and medications used to treat spasticity generally reduce spasms but do not improve walking. In addition, clinical tests for spasticity assess individual joints, yet spasticit and the drugs used to treat it affect the whole limb. It is important therefore to identify the distribution and strength of reflex pathways, and determine how reflex pathways are naturally modulated during motor tasks and by medications in a functional context. We propose to use the versatile mechanographic technique to systematically identify the distribution, strength, and time course of intermuscular reflex networks linking major hindlimb muscle groups (Aim 1). Because natural stimuli such as hip posture are known to influence intermuscular neural networks but the modulatory influence is controversial, the mechanographic approach will be used to clarify whether hip posture affects neural pathways that could promote weight support and gait transitions (Aim 2). Lastly, the systematic approach for examining reflex pathways will be used in combination with alpha-2 agonists (tizanidine and clonidine) to better understand their antispasticity mechanisms of action (Aim 3a) and influence on whole limb function (Aim 3b). Currently, the antispastic effects are attributed to suppression of excitatory autogenic group II pathways. Group II pathways are known to be widely distributed and therefore intermuscular pathways could also contribute to the antispastic effect, and the poor walking outcomes.
This aim will serve the dual purpose of classifying the proprioceptive pathways that mediate the antispastic effect while also placing the findings in a functional context. Whole limb function wil be evaluated by the measurement of limb stiffness using robotic technology. Stiffness is a relevant variable for spasticity that links mechanical properties of the limb and neural circuits t motor function. The measurement of limb stiffness could be an innovative way to noninvasively assess spasticity severity and the influence of antispastic medications at the whole limb level. Taken together, these experiments will enhance rehabilitation strategies intended to restore independent mobility after spinal cord injury and will enhance the medical management for spasticity.
The goals of this research are to identify the strength and distribution of reflex pathways linking functional muscle groups, and examine the influence of hip posture and common antispastic medications on these neural connections. The information learned from this project is anticipated to help develop better rehabilitation so that persons can stand and walk after spinal injury, and improve the medical management of spasticity. Patient care for spasticity will be further improved by developing a comprehensive way for medical professionals to assess and monitor the effects of treatment.
| Lyle, Mark A; Nichols, T Richard (2018) Patterns of intermuscular inhibitory force feedback across cat hindlimbs suggest a flexible system for regulating whole limb mechanics. J Neurophysiol 119:668-678 |
| Lyle, Mark A; Nichols, T Richard; Kajtaz, Elma et al. (2017) Musculotendon adaptations and preservation of spinal reflex pathways following agonist-to-antagonist tendon transfer. Physiol Rep 5: |
| Lyle, Mark A; Prilutsky, Boris I; Gregor, Robert J et al. (2016) Self-reinnervated muscles lose autogenic length feedback, but intermuscular feedback can recover functional connectivity. J Neurophysiol 116:1055-67 |
