title: The efficacy of electrical stimulation in reducing the post-stroke spasticity: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of surface electrical stimulation on the spasticity occurring in the wrist flexor muscles after a cerebrovascular event.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hemiplegic patients with stage 2-3 spasticity in the wrist muscles based on the Ashworth scale were divided into two groups. Both groups were applied stretching. One group was additionally administered neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to the wrist extensors, in the form of pulsed current, 100 Hz, with a pulse duration of 0.1 msec, and a resting duration of 9 seconds, for 15 minutes to provide the maximum muscular contraction. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated using the following: modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Fmax/Mmax ratio, Hmax/Mmax ratio, wrist extension range of motion (ROM). The daily activities were assessed by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) and the motor recovery was evaluated by Brunnstrom motor staging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups revealed a significant recovery after the treatment based on the MAS, the electrophysiological evaluation results, wrist ROM, FIM and Brunnstrom motor staging. The group receiving the combined treatment showed a better recovery in terms of MAS, wrist ROM, FIM and Brunnstrom motor staging compared to the group doing the stretching alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study showed that NMES given together with stretching of the wrist extensor muscles was more effective than stretching of the wrist extensor muscles alone in reducing spasticity.
authors: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Selcuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Meram, Konya, Turkey. nilaysahin@gmail.com
authors: Nilay
authors: N
authors: Sahin
authors: Hatice
authors: H
authors: Ugurlu
authors: Ilknur
authors: I
authors: Albayrak
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology