The Influence of Stroke on Reciprocal Control of the Stretch Reflex

Stroke-induced changes in stretch reflex activity are known to contribute to impaired movement and posture. It has recently been shown that the stretch reflex is significantly modulated by surrounding muscle activity, but how this changes after stroke is not understood. We explored how reciprocal control of the stretch reflex by agonist and antagonist muscles during posture and movement changes after a stroke. Our group’s novel approach to continuously estimate voluntary muscle activity and reflex response across a movement, paired with linear models, helped demystify the relationship between background muscle activity and stretch reflex activity and how this changes after a stroke.