title: Development of a simple spasticity quantification method: effects of tizanidine on spasticity in patients with sequelae of cerebrovascular disease.
abstract: A simple method that can be performed at the bedside using a spring balance was developed in order to quantify spasticity. The effects of tizanidine on spasticity were evaluated in 30 patients with sequelae of cerebrovascular disease using this method. Treatment with tizanidine was effective in 60% of the patients; there were high correlations between spasticity before and after tizanidine administration and the severity of symptoms and also between the degree of improvement in spasticity and in that of the symptoms. Atonic seizures, due to overdose of tizanidine, were observed in only one patient. The simple spasticity quantification method developed was useful for monitoring tizanidine administration in order to prevent drug overdose. The method appears to be very useful for evaluating the degree of spasticity at the bedside and in measuring the effects of antispastic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neurobiology, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asanuma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamawaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; C023754:tizanidine; D003000:Clonidine