Investigations into the mechanisms underlying contralateral and remote neuromuscular responses to ipsilateral actions.

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The ability to fully activate muscle has been a disputed question for more than 50 years. This question is till controversial. Most of the research conducted on this question has used individual muscles in non-realistic situations. When individuals typically move, there are a variety of movements occurring on both sides of the body and interactions between the upper and lower body. It is known that when muscles contract on one side, neural signals are sent to the spinal cord, brain and subsequently to muscles on the other side. Most of these type of studies have examined the same muscle on the contralateral (opposite) side. It is unknown to what extent the activation or fatigue of a muscle on one side will affect the functioning of a different muscle on the other side. Blood flow on the opposite side can also be affected so contralateral changes may not be just due to neural effects. This effect not only has implications for understanding how the brain and spinal cord distribute information but also could have implications for individuals who are undergoing rehabilitation and can train one muscle but not others. Furthermore there are reflexes originating from birth known as primitive reflexes that affect the functioning of muscle actions on both sides of the body. It is believed that we lose these reflexes as we mature from the infant stage. However primitive reflexes can return with older individuals and people with low back pain. It is not known if these primitive reflexes are still present when young adults perform movements that mimic these reflexes. These reflexes have been shown to help people with low back pain activate particular muscles. It might be possible to use these reflexes to help older individuals gain strength or control of muscles. They may even affect a young adult's ability to fully activate specific muscles. Thus it is important to investigate for the sake of basic science and rehabilitation and training implications the interaction between different muscles under rested and fatiguing conditions.