HeightenedFlexorWithdrawalResponseinIndividualsWithKneeOsteoarthritisIsModulatedbyJointCompressionandJointMobilizationCarolA
Courtney,PaulO
Witte,SamuelJ
Chmell,andT
GeorgeHornbyUniversityofIllinoisatChicago,Chicago,Illinois
Abstract:Patientswithchronicpainoftenpresentwithhyperalgesia,possiblyduetohyperexcit-abilityofnociceptivepathways
Theaimofthepresentstudywastoinvestigatealterationsinflexorwithdrawalreflex(FWR)excitabilityinindividualswithkneeosteoarthritis(OA)andthepotentialef-fectofspecificphysicalinputsortherapeuticinterventions(ie,jointcompressionandmobilization)onthesebehaviors
Tensubjectswithand10withoutkneeOA(age45–75)wererecruited
TheFWRwasexaminedutilizingsuprathreshold,noxiouselectrocutaneousstimuliappliedatthemedialfoot
Surfaceelectromyographic(EMG)wasrecordedfromthetibialis