Postural Perturbations. Toxic or Helpful for Brain?

Postural perturbations are usually used in rehabilitation centers to increase the stability of patients with different physical, mental or social disorders. Placing the subjects in frightening conditions is one of the most common conditional used in clinics and research studies aiming to influence the spinal reflexes of the subjects. The Hoffmann (H) reflex is also a very well-known reflex in this area to be studied. The present study focused on measurement of this reflex’s parameters in a group of young girls. Sixteen young girls with the anxiety scores less than 42 were recruited in this study and were tested in two different conditions including the standard prone lying position and standing on the edge of a one-meter height stool to see if this frightening conditions changes the spinal reflex’s parameters? The results of this study showed significant difference between the positions only in terms of the intensity needed to record the H-reflex (p=0.034). The results of this study confirmed that any postural perturbations will result in deleterious brain activities and might be considered as to be toxic for brain. The findings might help clinicians in a better understanding of the stability in people suffering from anxiety, fear of falling, elderly persons and also patients with psychological disorders.