Spasticity is a disorder commonly found in people having upper motor neuron lesion and whose involvement can happen at different levels. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) is the most routinely used instrument in clinical practice to assign spasticity levels. However, due to its inherent subjectivity, inter-evaluator discrepancies arise. Therefore, there are systems that quantitatively evaluate ...

BACKGROUND Spasticity is a common and poorly controlled symptom of multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to determine the short-term effect of smoked cannabis on this symptom. METHODS We conducted a placebo-controlled, crossover trial involving adult patients with multiple sclerosis and spasticity. We recruited participants from a regional clinic or by referral from specialists. We randomly a...

OBJECTIVES To compare clinical effectiveness and health related quality of life in patients with severe spasticity who received intrathecal baclofen or a placebo. METHODS In a double blind, randomised, multicentre trial 22 patients were followed up during 13 weeks and subsequently included in a 52 week observational longitudinal study. Patients were those with chronic, disabling spasticity wh...

Background: Spasticity is one of the major neurological complications occurring in people with Spinal Cord Lesions due to loss of supra-spinal and spinal control over alpha motor neuron activity. Its accurate assessment is necessary for tailoring patient specific rehabilitation program. Clinical assessment is commonly done through Modified Ashworth Scale where in the examiner subjectively judge...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) by using both the conventional (Hmax/Mmax ratio) and the new indicators (Hslp/Mslp) of motoneuron excitability. This research was a correlational study on twenty post-stroke patients. Main outcome measures were the MAS and electrophysiologic assessments. The latter was performed using both conventiona...

BACKGROUND Paratonia, a form of hypertonia, is associated with loss of mobility and with the development of contractures especially in the late stages of the dementia. Passive movement therapy (PMT) currently is the main physiotherapeutic intervention. General doubt about the beneficial effects of this widely used therapy necessitates a randomised clinical trial (RCT) to study the efficacy of P...

Edgar Ashworth Underwood was bom in Dumfries on 9 March 1899. He was educated at the Dumfries Academy, a school of high standing, and finished his schooldays as Dux (head boy) of the modern side. War service (1917-1919) with the Cameron Highlanders in France followed (his regimental kilt long remained a treasured possession)..On demobilization he entered the University of Glasgow and there in 1...

Introduction: Spasticity is a typical motor disorder in patients affected by stroke. Typically post-stroke rehabilitation consists of repetition of mobilization exercises on impaired limbs, aimed to reduce muscle hypertonia and mitigate spastic reflexes. It is currently strongly debated if the treatment's effectiveness improves with the timeliness of its adoption; in particular, starting intens...

INTRODUCTION Spasticity is a major problem for the rehabilitation team. Physiotherapy is a vital component of therapy. Oral medication and other modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and surgery (neuro-surgical or orthopedic) can also be used. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of hydrotherapy on spasticity and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) sco...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We sought to determine whether continuous intrathecal delivery of baclofen can effectively decrease spastic hypertonia due to stroke. METHODS Stroke patients with >6 months of intractable spasticity were screened via a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design of either intrathecal normal saline or 50 microgram baclofen. Those who dropped an average ...