TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of surface electrical stimulation on the muscle-tendon junction of spastic gastrocnemius in stroke patients
AU - Chen, S. C.
AU - Chen, Y. L.
AU - Chen, C. J.
AU - Lai, C. H.
AU - Chiang, W. H.
AU - Chen, W. L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported through grant NSC 90-2614-E-038-001 from the National Science Council, Taiwan, ROC.
PY - 2005/2/4
Y1 - 2005/2/4
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of spasticity suppression by surface electrical stimulation (ES) on 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 group, 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 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 the 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.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of spasticity suppression by surface electrical stimulation (ES) on 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 group, 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 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 the 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.
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U2 - 10.1080/09638280400009022
DO - 10.1080/09638280400009022
M3 - Article
C2 - 15823991
AN - SCOPUS:15844368319
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 27
SP - 105
EP - 110
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
IS - 3
ER -