Effects of Temperature on Neuromuscular Function Jon Marsden School of Health Professions University of Plymouth
http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x2696104/test_tube_over_a_bunsen_burner http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~nd/surprise_95/journal/vol4/ykl/report.html
Effects in Health
Effects on Nerve Stimulate Median Nerve Record from digital nerves Wrist Stimulation Cooling Elbow Stimulation Conduction Velocity Amplitude Bolton et al JNNP 1981 44 407
Effects on Nerve Cooling Impairs Na + -K + ATPase Activity Extra-axonal accumulation of K+ Loss of Pump Current Alters Ion Channel activity Na+ Channel opening time http://kvhs.nbed.nb.ca/gallant/biology/action_potential_generation.html Nerve becomes depolarised
Effects on Muscle Contraction Neuromuscular Transmission More robust Ach activated channel opening time Ach hydrolysis rate Cooling Muscle fibers Slow ATP-ase dependent Cross bridge formation http://wps.aw.com/bc_marieb_happlace_7_oa/42/10966/2807550.cw/index.html6 Force Rate of Force Generation
Effects on Muscle Stiffness Passive Stiffness Connective Tissue Intramuscular Proteins Titin Cross Bridge Attachment Gillies and Lieber, 2011 Muscle and Nerve 44 318-331 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/titin
Effects on Muscle Stiffness Cross Bridge Attachments Passive Stiffness Perturbation Thixotropy Increase in movement post perturbation Body Temperature Post Cooling Similar Stiffness prior perturbation Less reduction in stiffness after perturbation Lakie et al, 1986 JNNP 49 69-76
Degree of Relaxation Force Effects on Muscle Stiffness Thermal Stability of Connective Tissue Passive Stiffness Effects of stretching Stress-relaxation curve Tendon held at this strain Strain Time Difference below 37 o C Time Rigby et al, 1959 The J of General Physiology 43 265-283
Effects on Reflex Activity Cutaneous Stimuli can affect Recruitment of higher threshold Motoneurons Higher threshold MNs Recruited earlier Alpha Motor Neuron Excitability Yona, 1997 Jap J Physiol 47 341-347
Effects on Reflex Activity Cooling No Effect on H/M reflex Tendon Reflexes decrease Muscle spindle activity is decreased Inhibition of γ motoneurons Reduction in Group II Afferent Discharge http://www.nature.com/sc/journal/v44/n12/fig_tab/3101928f1.html
Effects in Neurological Disease
Effects of Pathology: Nerve Demyelination and Uhthoff s Phenomena Demyelination Capacitance Resistance Current Leak Insufficient current to Open Na+ channels at Node of Ranvier Conduction Block Warming Na+ ion channel Opens for shorter Period of time Less Time for summation of local currents Conduction block http://www.msif.org/en/about_ms/demyelination.html
Effects of Pathology: Nerve Cold Paresis 80% Multifocal motor Neuropathy 52% Spinal Muscular Atrophy 38% Chronic Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Due to a worsening of focal depolarisation? Franssen et al 2010 J Periph Nervous System 15 227-237
Effects of Pathology: Neuromuscular Junction Myasthenia Gravis Autoimmune Disease with antibodies blocking Ach Receptors at the Neuromuscular Junction Warm Warming makes symptoms worse eg hot pack to neck increases ptosis Ach esterase Ach-induced depolarisation Rutkove, 2001 Muscle and Nerve 24 867-882
Effects of Pathology: Muscle Paramyotonia Congenita 50% of Na+ channels have a high permeability Cool Opens mutant Na+ channels Membrane depolarisation Opens all channels Depolarisation Weakness Rutkove, 2001 Muscle and Nerve 24 867-882
Rehabilitation
Use of Temperature in Rehabilitation Whole Body Cooling in MS Improvements reported in Walking speed Balance Strength Fatigue Mechanism(s) Unclear No change in central motor conduction time Chiara et al 1998 Archives of Phys Med and Rehabil, 79, 523-528. Coyle et al 1996 Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 10, 9-15. Kinnman et al 2000 Scand J Rehabilitation Medicine 32 16-19. Meyer-Heim et al 2007 Multiple Sclerosis, 13 232-7. Nilsagård et al 2006 Disabil Rehabil: Assistive Technology, 1 225-33. Schwid et al Neurology, 60 1955-1960. Often no change in core temperature
Use of Temperature in Rehabilitation Cooling to Reduce Tremor Essential Tremor Cerebellar Tremor Due to MS Lakie et al, 1994 JNNP 57 35-42 Feys et al, 2005 JNNP 76 373-376
Use of Temperature in Rehabilitation Cooling to Reduce Spasticity Baseline Post Cooling Reduction in clonus with prolonged cooling Boyraz et al, 2009 J Spinal Cord Med 32 132-139
Use of Temperature in Rehabilitation Cooling to Reduce Spasticity 26 TBI 20mins cool pack Reflex threshold(1.5 o only) =H reflex Toe tapping Reduced Stretch Reflex threshold with cooling Allison et al, 2001 Int J Rehabil Res 24 15-24
Effect of localised Warming and Cooling in Spastic Paraparesis and Multiple Sclerosis Measure Before and After Cooling / Warming Peripheral and Central nerve Conduction Maximal Voluntary Contraction Rate of Force generation Passive Stiffness Stretch Reflex Mediated Stiffness Walking speed Foot tap speed
Conclusion Cooling can: Reduce nerve conduction velocity Reduce MVC and rate of force generation Increase passive stiffness Decreases tendon reflexes The effects of temperature changes depends on: The underlying pathology The site of intervention The duration of intervention Warming can have the opposite effect
The Research Team Jon Marsden Amanda Austin Lisa Bunn Alan Hough Other Team Members: Simon Hubbard Ian Bennett Susie Wolstenholme Awarding Body Chartered Society of Physiotherapy