Effects of afferent stimulation rate on inhibitory spinal pathways in hemiplegic spastic patients

► The major finding of this study was that, contrary to that observed at the Ia fibre-α motoneurone synapse, increasing the conditioning stimulus rate in hemiplegic patients leads to an increase in the synaptic efficacy of inhibitory spinal circuits. ► For the first time, a significant correlation was found between the severity of flexor carpi radialis muscle spasticity and the decrease of disynaptic inhibition. ► Reinforcement of inhibitory spinal networks by repetitive stimulation of afferent fibres opens new vistas for novel spasticity therapies based on non-invasive plasticity techniques.