"Richard Norman" <rsnorman at mw.mediaone.net> wrote:
>I had long read (and long taught) about the importance of the stretch
>reflex negative feedback control system in controlling motor activity.
>>That is until a herniated disk pressing on L4 and L5 eliminated the
>reflexes in my right leg as well as cutaneous sense over a large area.
> I lost a lot of muscle strength and found myself hesitating to put
>full weight on my leg, as in climbing stairs, but that might have
>related to reduction in motor activity, not loss of sensory.feedback.
>I never noticed any problem in motor coordination or control.
>>My neurologist claimed that that was well known -- many people
>function well without these reflexes and also wondered why the
>stretch reflex was given such prominent attention in teaching about
>motor control.
>>Of course, it does make a might pretty story, whether or not true!
I think its importance is partly due to the fact that it is the first
reflex pathway to be described (by Sherrington) in detail.How
important it is in the grand scheme of the CNS is another matter.
How can you and your neurologist be so sure about your L4 and 5
damage? It's hard enough to be sure in an experimental animal, even
with the pathology done.
J.R.Johnstone (Ray Johnstone)
ray at iinet.com.au
www.iinet.com.au/~ray