Spasticity is one of the constituent elements of upper motor neuron syndrome. For now, it is also the only symptom which is pharmacologically treatable. The pathophysiology of spasticity is very complex, and many aspects remain unclear. The great majority of commonly used oral drugs modulate the activity of receptors and/or neurotransmitters at different levels of the central nervous system. Th...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of deep dry needling (DDN) on spasticity, pressure sensitivity, and plantar pressure in patients who have had stroke. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-four patients who previously had a stroke were randomly assigned either an experimental group that received a single session of DDN over the gastrocnemi...

In 25 patients with spasticity, pharmacokinetics and effects of dantrolene sodium were investigated after prolonged administration. A beneficial effect occurred in seven patients. The results were better on 100 mg daily than on a higher daily dose. An increase of the daily dose from 200 to 400 mg was not associated with higher blood levels. Many side effects were noted such as: anorexia, nausea...

The effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) cordotomy of segmental motoneurone pools of the lumbosacral cord in reducing spasticity of decerebrate cats is evaluated. The need for a new form of therapy for clinical spasticity is based upon the limitations of contemporary methods, including surgical and pharmacological techniques. In man, spasticity of spinal origin may be treated effectively by int...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether short-term propulsion of a functional electrical stimulation-assisted leg-cycling wheelchair (FES-LW) in patients with stroke can reduce spasticity of the affected leg and whether FES has additional effects on reducing spasticity. DESIGN Within-subject comparison. SUBJECTS A total of 17 patients after stroke were recruited from the university hospital. METHO...

The objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate alterations in body composition variables and spasticity following subtetanic neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training in an adult population with spinal cord injury (SCI). Fourteen sedentary adults with SCI (thoracic [T]4-T11; American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A/B; time since injury: 10.17 +/- 11.17...

Despite its potential importance in hand dysfunction, spasticity in the finger muscles following stroke has not been well described. To explore this area, we assessed the role of finger flexor spasticity, along with that of passive mechanical forces, in resisting finger movement in 13 chronic stroke subjects. Subjects were tested with a device that stretched the extrinsic finger muscles through...

Decorticate spasticity in the squirrel monkey was chosen as a convenient laboratory model of spasticity capable of quantitative assessment upon which to evaluate various currently popular clinical spasmolytic measures. The effects of a wide variety of cortical lesions were studied involving primary and supplementary motor, premotor and parietal cortex unilaterally and bilaterally, measuring mus...

Primary lateral sclerosis is a disorder categorized by insidious onset of progressive upper motor neuron dysfunction without lower involvement. PLS often presents with gradual-onset, extremity stiffness and pain due to muscle spasticity. Intrathecal Baclofen pumps (ITB) have been used effectively treat spasticity in several neurologic conditions including MS spinal cord injury. This study aimed...

PURPOSE Cooling muscles might produce a temporary reduction of spasticity. This study investigated muscle co-ordination in spasticity under the influence of cooling. METHODS A repetitive movement (RM-) test of the ankle was used, while measuring the angle and surface-electromyography (EMG) of the m. tibialis anterior and m. triceps surae. Ensemble averaging provided quantified measures of mus...