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Effects Of Voluntary Breathing On Force Responses To Electrical Stimulation (Es) Of Finger Extensors : A Pilot Study, Shang Li, W. H. Park, Elizabeth Ikeda, Charles Leonard

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Faculty Publications

Voluntary breathing can influence motor functions of non-respiratory skeletal muscles, e.g., finger muscles. The influence was proposed to be mediated by the ventilation-associated enhancement on corticospinal excitability of the finger muscles, possibly including spinal mechanisms. Force responses to electrical stimulation include spinal mechanisms. The purpose was to investigate the potential spinal mechanism mediating the voluntary breathing effects on responses of finger extension forces to electrical stimulation. A single-pulse electrical stimulation of the same intensity was delivered to the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) during voluntary breathing (forced inspiration, IN and force expiration, OUT) and normal breathing (Norm) across various submaximal levels …