Effects of Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation of Sensory Dermatome on Spasticity in Patients with Brain Lesion.
- Author:
Yong Wook KIM
1
;
Young Hee LEE
;
Sung Hoon KIM
;
Jeong Mee PARK
;
Oh Yun KWUN
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Spasticity;
Electrical stimulation;
Relaxation index;
Amplitude;
Brain lesion
- MeSH:
Brain*;
Electric Stimulation;
Electric Stimulation Therapy*;
Humans;
Knee;
Muscle Spasticity*;
Muscles;
Reflex, Stretch;
Relaxation;
Stroke
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2003;27(1):27-32
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate and delayed effects of electrical stimulation of sensory nerve pathway on spasticity in patients with brain lesions. METHOD: Sixteen stroke and traumatic brain injured subjects participated in this study. Electrical stimulation on the der matome of spastic muscles was applied for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks. Spasticity was quantified through the use of a relaxation index obtained from pendulum test and a amplitude and latency from knee tendon reflex test. The measurements were performed 6 times in treatment period. The data were analyzed by repeated measures one way ANOVA. RESULTS: Relaxation index was significantly increased in treatment period (p<0.05). In each therapeutic stimulation session, relaxation index of post-stimulation was increased in comparison with that of pre-stimulation (p<0.01). The amplitude of post-stimulation was significantly decreased in comparison with pre-stimulation status in each measurement session (p<0.01). The latency of tendon reflex was not changed after stimulation. CONCLUSION: These results showed that the electrical stimulation was useful method to decrease spasticity in patients with brain lesions. Further studies are needed to explore the effects of functional improvement and the long-lasting carry over effects on spasticity in electrical stimulation.
