Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve
stimulation (TENS) on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury. DESIGN:
Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Extended rehabilitation centre. SUBJECTS : Eighteen subjects with spinal cord injury and symptoms of
spasticity over lower limbs were randomly assigned to receive either 60 minutes
of active TENS (0.25 ms, 100 Hz, 15 mA) or 60 minutes of placebo non-electrically
stimulated TENS over the common peroneal nerve. OUTCOME MEASURES: Composite
Spasticity Score was used to assess the spasticity level of ankle plantar flexors
immediately before and after TENS application. Composite Spasticity Score
consisted of Achilles tendon jerks, resistance to full-range passive ankle
dorsiflexion and ankle clonus. Between-group statistical differences of reduction
of Composite Spasticity Score, Achilles tendon jerks, resistance to full-range
passive ankle dorsiflexion and ankle clonus were calculated using the
Mann-Whitney test. Within-group statistical differences of Composite Spasticity
Score, Achilles tendon jerks, resistance to full-range passive ankle dorsiflexion
and ankle clonus were calculated using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. RESULTS:
Significant reductions were shown in Composite Spasticity Score by 29.5% (p =
0.017), resistance to full-range passive ankle dorsiflexion by 31.0% (p = 0.024)
and ankle clonus by 29.6% (p = 0.023) in the TENS group but these reductions were
not found in the placebo TENS group. The between-group differences of both
Composite Spasticity Score and resistance to full-range passive ankle
dorsiflexion were significant (p = 0.027 and p = 0.024, respectively).
CONCLUSION: This study showed that a single session of TENS could immediately
reduce spasticity.

Langue : ANGLAIS