Topical anesthetic-induced improvements in the mobility of patients with muscular hypertonicity: Preliminary results.
Application of a topical anesthetic on the skin of the upper and lower limbs of chronic stroke and head-trauma patients induced considerable improvement in limb mobility within 30 min. We hypothesize that the augmentation of joint mobility and reduction in muscle rigidity are the result of desensitization of skin receptors that interact with the motor system. Physical therapy exercises performed during the effective period of the anesthetic rendered long-lasting improvement in the patients' ability to move their upper limbs and ambulate more effectively.
Sabbahi
M A
MA
NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
De Luca
C J
CJ