The Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) is a clinical instrument for measuring spasticity. Few studies have been performed on the reliability of the MMAS. The aim of the present study was to investigate the intrarater reliability of the MMAS for the assessment of spasticity in the lower limb. We conducted a test-retest study on spasticity in the hip adductors, knee extensors, and ankle plan...

BACKGROUND Spasticity following a stroke occurs in about 30% of patients. The mechanisms underlying this disorder, however, are not well understood. METHOD This review aims to define spasticity, describe hypotheses explaining its development after a stroke, give an overview of related neuroimaging studies as well as a description of the most common scales used to quantify the degree of spasti...

INTRODUCTION Botulinum toxin A (BTA) improves the kinematic parameters of gait in patients with spasticity of lower limbs, but there are no studies in which kinetic parameters are measured with instrumented insoles. We therefore used instrumented insoles to perform a functional assessment of therapeutic results in patients with lower limb spasticity after brain injury or spinal cord infiltratio...

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...

OBJECTIVES Describe the rationale and protocol for the Upper Limb International Spasticity (ULIS)-III study, which aims to evaluate the impact of integrated spasticity management, involving multiple botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection cycles and concomitant therapies, on patient-centred goal attainment. Outline novel outcome assessment methods for ULIS-III and report initial evaluation data fr...

In a preliminary controlled trial, CIBA 34,647-Ba, a gamma aminobutyric acid derivative, was found to be more effective than placebo in reducing spasticity due to spinal injuries. In an uncontrolled trial, 34,647-Ba also appeared more effective than diazepam. The intensity of spasticity was measured electromyographically by the amplitude of the stretch reflex at various velocities, and the resu...

To establish whether botulinum A toxin (BTX-A) acts on modifying reciprocal inhibition between forearm muscles in spasticity, 20 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity lasting for more than 1 year were studied. Clinical examination, physiotherapeutic evaluation, standardized video-tape assessment and electrophysiological testing (flexor carpi radialis muscle M and H responses with stud...

This study's aims were (1) to test whether training on an arm ergometer improves motor performance, and (2) to develop a technique to quantify individual muscle spasticity. Nine patients with a stabilized hemisyndrome (in average 22 months after ischemic stroke in the territory of middle cerebral artery) underwent a 3-week training on an arm ergometer, 5 days/week. The patients were tested one ...