Objective. Incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) patients have the potential to regain some ambulatory function, and optimal reorganization of remaining circuits can contribute to this recovery. We hypothesized that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may promote active recovery of motor function during gait rehabilitation. Methods. A total of 17 incomplete SCI patients were rando...

OBJECTIVE To document the frequency, clinical correlates and predictors of symptomatic upper limb spasticity in patients one year or more after stroke. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS A total of 140 patients after stroke attending a rehabilitation clinic. METHODS Assessments of spasticity, upper limb function and self-care ability using the Ashworth Scale (AS), Motor Assessment Sca...

ITB pumps are widely used in the treatment of intractable spasticity for many clinical indications, including cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury. High-dose intrathecal administration places the patient at significant risk for withdrawal in the event of device malfunction, necessitating rapid and complete evaluation of the pump-catheter system. This article reviews the approach to imaging eva...

PURPOSE Neural tension technique (NTT) is a therapy believed to reduce spasticity and to increase range of motion (ROM). This study compared the ability of NTT and random passive movements (RPMs) to reduce spasticity in the knee flexors in 10 spastic patients with brain injury. METHODS An RCT study with crossover design evaluated muscle tone measured by: 1) hand-held dynamometer; 2) Modified ...

Spasticity is common following stroke; however, high subject variability and unreliable measurement techniques limit research and treatment advances. Our objective was to investigate the use of shear wave elastography (SWE) to characterize the spastic reflex in the biceps brachii during passive elbow extension in an individual with spasticity. The patient was a 42-year-old right-hand-dominant m...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is currently no consensus on (1) the percentage of patients who develop spasticity after ischemic stroke, (2) the relation between spasticity and initial clinical findings after acute stroke, and (3) the impact of spasticity on activities of daily living and health-related quality of life. METHODS In a prospective cohort study, 301 consecutive patients with clinic...