title: Effects of continuous passive motion on reversing the adapted spinal circuit in humans with chronic spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possibility of restoring the adapted spinal circuit after spinal cord injury (SCI) by means of long-term continuous passive motion (CPM) of the ankle joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial with repeated measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory in a general hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with motor complete SCI (N=14) were recruited from a community.
  
  
  METHODS
  CPM of the ankle joint for 1 hour a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scores for evaluation of spasticity and postactivation depression (PAD) were documented prior to and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MAS scores improved after 4 weeks of CPM intervention, indicating a reduction in spasticity of the ankle joint. PAD was restored after 4 weeks of training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Passive motion of the ankle joint alone was sufficient in reversing the adapted spinal circuit, and therefore indicates that spasticity after SCI could possibly be managed by CPM intervention. The results of this study support the use of the passive mode of robot-assisted therapy for humans with complete SCI who cannot exercise actively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. yjchang@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Ya-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jing-Nong
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Miao-Ju
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hen-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.forename: Chia-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D055366:Synaptic Potentials; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult