The Effect of Manual Skin Brushing on H-reflex Amplitude in Normal Human Subjects

Objective: To observe the effect of brushing on triceps surae muscle and different part of lower limb in normal healthy subjects.

Materials and Method: Total 90 healthy subjects aged between 20 to 40 years were included in the study. They were divided into three groups according to the application of brushing area. 30 subjects were included in each group (15 males, 15 females). The brushing was applied on only dominant side of the subjects. The H-reflex was measured before brushing, during brushing and after brushing. After measuring pre-brushing H-reflex amplitude, 3 minutes rest interval was given to all groups. Then, brushing was applied for duration of 60 seconds at frequency of 100 strokes min-1 in all groups in distal to proximal direction. After 10 minutes, post- brushing the H-reflex was measured. Direct brushing was applied on area of 2cm × 10 cm of skin over triceps surae muscle in first group. In second group, brushing was applied on adhesive tape placed over area of 2cm × 10 cm of triceps surae muscle. Brushing was applied to the skin overlying tibialis anterior, posterior aspect of the knee joint and posterior aspect of the ankle joint consecutively in third group. 30 minutes rest interval given before switching to next part of brushing in group 3.

Results: Result shows the decrease of H-reflex amplitude during direct brushing over triceps sure muscle as compared to brushing over adhesive tape. The maximum reduction of H-reflex amplitude was found during brushing in popliteal fossa amongst three different areas. Skin brushing has no long lasting effects.

Conclusion: Manually skin brushing has an inhibitory effect on H-reflex excitability in normal subjects. Though the effects of brushing are not long lasting but it can be used one of the facilitory technique for eliciting muscle tone in neurological disorders.