Paralysis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Paralysis, including details on treatment, diagnosis, facial paralysis, sleep paralysis.

Effects of surface electrical stimulation on the muscle-tendon junction of spastic gastrocnemius in stroke patients.

Chen SC, Chen YL, Chen CJ, Lai CH, Chiang WH, Chen WL

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University and Hospital, Taiwan.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of spasticity suppression by surface electrical stimulation (ES) o the muscle-tendon junction of spastic gastrocnemius muscles in stroke. METHODS: Twenty-four neurologically stable stroke patients (aged 41-69 years, 12-35 months post-stroke), with spasticity graded 2 or 3 on the modified Ashworth scale, were recruited and divided into two groups. In the ES group, each patient received 20 min of surface ES once daily, 6 days per week for 1 month. In the control groups, ES was used with stimulation intensity kept at zero. To evaluate the therapeutic effect, the modified Ashworth scale, Fmax/Mmax ratio, H-reflex latency, H-reflex recovery curve, and the 10-m walking time were tested before and after the 1-month of treatment. RESULTS: In the ES group, the modified Ashworth scale showed a trend toward reduced spasticity after 1 month of treatment. The Fmax/Mmax ratio decreased from 8.10% +/- 4.84% to 4.00% +/- 1.36%; the H-reflex latency increased from 28.87 +/- 2.45 ms to 29.40 +/- 2.57 ms; the H-reflex recovery curves indicated a downward shift; and the 10-metre walking time significantly decreased after ES. In the control group, none of the measures showed a statistically significant change. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrated a way to suppress spasticity at a metameric site and to increase walking speed effectively by applying surface ES on the muscle-tendon junction of spastic gastrocnemius muscles.

Published 12 April 2005 in Disabil Rehabil, 27(3): 105-10.
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