An attempt to explain the Vojta therapy mechanism of action using the surface polyelectromyography in healthy subjects: A pilot study

Abstract

Background: Rehabilitation according to Vojta is a neurophysiological method used to obtain reflex responses in muscles following stimulation of particular activation zones.

Objectives: This study aims to objectively evaluate the muscular responses following stimulation according to Vojta's method. The possible routes of spinal transmission responsible for the phenomenon of muscle activation in upper and lower extremities are considered.

Methods: Polyelectromyographic (pEMG) recordings in the upper and lower extremities in healthy volunteers (N = 25; aged 24 ± 1 year) were performed to find out the possible routes of spinal transmission, responsible for muscle activation. The left acromion and right femoral epicondyle were stimulated by a Vojta therapist; pEMG recordings were made including the bilateral deltoid and rectus femoris muscles.

Results and discussion: Following acromion stimulation, muscle activation was mostly expressed in the contralateral rectus femoris, rather than the contralateral deltoid and the ipsilateral rectus femoris muscles. After stimulation of the lower femoral epicondyle, the following order was observed: contra lateral deltoid, ipsilateral deltoid and the contra lateral rectus femoris muscle. One of the candidates responsible for the main crossed neural transmission involved in the Vojta therapy mechanism would be the long propriospinal tract neurons.

Keywords: Electromyography; Long propriospinal neurons; Vojta method.