Isocinetic exercise versus isometric exercise and Cutaneous Silent Period

by Ovidiu C. Banea

Reykjavik, 18 July 2016

During summer 2016, members from Neurophysiology Unit Landspitali University Hospital, Fossvogur, Iceland (Neurology Department) are conducting an experiment using novel technique of Cutaneous Silent Period (CuSP) at baseline conditions and after two type of interventions (isocinetic and isometric exercise) in upper limb nerve-muscle "reflex" as following: median nerve - abductor pollicis brevis and ulnaris nerve - first interosseous. The aim of this work is to analyse the contribution of sensory inputs to the cutaneous silent period and if there are changes after isometric exercise suggesting involvement of other afferent fibers (beside of small mielinated A-delta) to the CuSP onset, like those of muscle spindles.

Xiao Chun (Taiwan), Joaquim (Chile) and Anna Maria (Iceland)

isocinetic exercise of FIO muscle

Cutaneous Silent Period (CuSP) obtained from first interosseous muscle 

after stimulation of ulnaris nerve sensory fibers from the 5th digit