title: [Treatment of Spastic Gait Disorders Using an "Electro-Gait-Stimulator ("Schrittstimulator") (author's transl)].
abstract: A short historical outline of electric treatment of spasticity is given. A specially developed management with a "gait-stimulator" is described. Four muscles of each lower extremity being mainly engaged in walk were electrically stimulated in the physiological sequences according to the normal gait. The used electric impulses were of a duration of 0,25 msec and an intensity up to 700 V. Using such a "gain-stimulator" in spastic-paraparetic patients a reduced spasticity has been achieved. Positive effect of this treatment has been mostly pronounced, when the programming of impulses was adjusted to the end of the expected physiological contraction of the corresponding muscles. Physiological and pathological data of the "Silent period" is proposed to be mostly involved. The application of impulses in physiological sequences seems to reactivate normal reflex - mechanisms which are disturbed by supraspinal laesion. The results indicate that the electric impulses activates muscle-sensory - organs and that impulses on these organs produce a pace-making function on the spinal cord, which lessens spasticity.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008588:Meningocele / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012018:Reflex; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications
vernacular_title: Zur Elektrobehandlung der spastischen Gangstörung mit einem "Schrittstimulator"