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Biomedical subjects

N Ushio

Publications and source records attributed to N Ushio.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Lumbomuscular proprioceptive reflexes in body equilibrium.

To evaluate the role of reflexes related to the lumbar proprioceptors in maintenance of body equilibrium, changes in equilibrium function of the eyes and body were observed after unilateral procainization of the lumbar erector muscles. Observations were made on normal subjects and vertigo cases with lumbar pain after whiplash injury using various equilibrium tests. The results obtained were as follows: (1) On unilateral procainization of the lumbar erector muscles of normal subjects, eye nystagmus and disturbances of the righting reflex developed. Simultaneously, changes in drift reactions of the lower limbs were detected by the stepping test. Namely, in many of the subjects examined the direction of stepping deviation became quite different from that before procainization, and stepping after procainization tended to show slight or moderate ataxic features, associated with a sensation of unsteadiness. (2) When procaine was injected unilaterally into tender spots in the lumbar erector muscles of traumatic vertigo cases, spontaneous eye nystagmus and disturbances of the righting reflex decreased. Simultaneously, significant changes in the drift reactions of the lower limbs were observed in many of the cases examined. Namely, the direction of deviation became the opposite of that before procainization and ataxia in walking almost disappeared with reduction in vertigo. The following conclusions were drawn from these findings: (1) The effects of procaine on equilibrium of normal subjects are in sharp contrast to its effects on equilibrium of traumatic vertigo cases. Findings in the former might be due to increased imbalance between the activities of the right and left lumbar proprioceptors, while those in the latter might be due to decreased imbalance between the two. (2) These findings support the view that from the standpoint of body equilibrium, there are two phases of the proprioceptive reflex, and that Fukuda's concept of "two phases of the labyrinthine reflex, i.e., a stage of disturbance and a stage of coordination", can be applied to interpretation of the proprioceptive reflex of lumbar origin.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Studies on ataxia of lumbar origin in cases of vertigo due to whiplash injury.

We draw the following conclusions from clinical observations on traumatized patients with vertigo and lumbar pain. 1) Hypertonicity of the lumbar soft supporting tissues, and especially the lumbar erector muscles (i.e., over-excitment of the lumbar proprioceptors) is a cause of vertigo due to whiplash injury. Equilibrium tests after fixing the waist with a corset are useful for detecting ataxia of lumbar origin. 2) Over-excitement of the lumbar porpiroceptors and dysfunction of the brain stem and the cerebellum are closely related in bringing about vertigo due to whiplash injury. The lumbar proprioceptors in particular may be important, in close correlation with the cerebellum in producing vertigo of this type. 3) Infiltration of procaine into tender spots in the lumbar soft supporting tissues is helpful in therapy of disequilibrium of the eyes and body and of cerebellar ataxia.

Adult↗