EXERCISE TRAINING IMPROVES FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY AND MOTOR-NERVE CONDUCTION-VELOCITY AFTER SCIATIC-NERVE CRUSH LESION IN THE RAT

Objective: To observe the effects of exercise training on recuperation of sensorimotor function in the early phase of regeneration, and to m onitor the long-term effects of exercise on electrophysiological aspec ts of the regenerating nerve. Design: After sciatic nerve crush in 20 male Wistar rats, one random selected group was subjected to 24 days o f exercise training, whereas the other group served as sedentary contr ols. Interventions: Exercise training was induced for 24 days, startin g the first postoperation day, by placing bottles of water at such a h eight that the exercising rats had to maximally erect on both hindpaws to drink. Main Outcome Measures: Recovery of motor and sensory functi on in the early phase was monitored by analysis of the free walking pa ttern and the foot reflex withdrawal test, respectively. Electrophysio logical measurements on postoperation days 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 w ere used to evaluate the late phase of recovery of nerve conduction ve locity. Results: During the early phase of the recovery period, exerci se training enhanced functional recovery. The motor nerve conduction v elocity (MNCV), as measured in the late phase of recovery, was signifi cantly better in the trained group than in the control group (p < .01) . Conclusions: We conclude that exercise training enhances the return of sensomotoric function in the early phase of recovery from periphera l nerve lesion. Furthermore, these results suggest that the beneficial effects of 24 days of exercise training after crush persist in the la te phase of peripheral nerve recovery. (C) 1997 by the American Congre ss of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Med icine and Rehabilitation