OBJECTIVE: This study compared the reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in individuals with and without spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and evaluated the effect of a 4-week leg cycling regimen on functional coordination and reciprocal control of agonist and antagonist muscles in patients with SCA. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. SETTING: Research laboratory in a general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with SCA (n = 20) and without SCA (n = 20). INTERVENTIONS: A single 15-minute session of leg cycling and a 4-week cycling regimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Individuals with SCA (n = 20) and without SCA (n = 20) underwent disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition tests of soleus muscles before and after a single 15-minute cycling session. Individuals with SCA were randomly assigned to either participate in 4 weeks of cycling training (n = 10) or to receive no training (n = 10). The disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition and International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) scores were evaluated in both groups after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Individuals with SCA showed abnormally strong resting values of disynaptic reciprocal inhibition and D1 inhibition (p < 0.001) and impaired inhibition modulation capacity after a single 15-minute session of cycling (p < 0.001). The inhibition modulation capacity was restored (p < 0.001) and the ICARS scores improved significantly (pre 13.5 +/- 9.81, post 11.3 +/- 8.74, p = 0.046) after 4 weeks of cycling training. CONCLUSIONS: A 4-week cycling regimen can normalize the modulation of reciprocal inhibition and functional performance in individuals with SCA. These findings are applicable to the coordination training of patients.

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