Treatment of spinal spasticity by electrical stimulation

Abstract

We present the results and the methodology of trials using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. The aim of our work was to decrease spasticity in 44 patients with traumatic damage to the spinal cord; 35 non-electrically stimulated spastics were used as controls. Both groups were randomly selected from inpatients in the Paraplegic Department at the Hospital Rehabilitation Centre. This electrical stimulation procedure leads to a long-lasting reduction in spasticity, an increased range of passive and active movements, the facilitation of lost functions, an improvement in breathing, an increase in pulmonary capacity, the reappearance of some neurological reflexes, and a diminution of supersensitivity to skin irritation. Blood pressure and neurogenic bladder functions were restored to normal. In addition to clinical observations, we investigated muscle force and the electromyogram; other measurements used in the trials involved the use of a specially adapted neurological hammer, a pendulum test, spirometry, cystometry, sphincterometry and biochemical estimations.