Evaluation of Electrical Stimulation as a （评估的电刺激）.pdfVIP

EVALUATION OF ELECTRICAL STI ULATI AS A TREATMENT FOR THE REDUCTION OF SPASTICITY 0 Ross Davis, M .D. John W. Gesink, Ph .D. Spinal Cord Injury Service, Veterans Administration Hospita 1201 Northwest 16th Street, Miami, Florida 33125 The purpose of this study is to examine ways in which electrical stimulation, both transcutaneously and via implanted stimulators, may be used to treat spasticity . Spasticity is one of the complications which frequently follows CNS (central nervous system) lesion, and it is com- monly identified in the following ways : The involved muscles develop a pathological resistance to passive stretch . This resistance increases with the rate of stretch and also exhibits the knife-clasp release phenome- non . The involved muscle groups also exhibit exag- gerated flexor and extensor reflexes . Another neuromuscular compli- cation, the muscle spasm (sometimes included as a characteristic of spasticity), frequently accompanies the spasticity of CNS lesion and is often observed in the spinal-cord-injured patient. Spasticity is generally considered to be detrimental to the patient (1). Gross spasm in the paralyzed limbs of a spinal-cord-injured patient can obviously interfere with activities of daily living . Also, spasm can lead to contractures, dislocation of joints, and can mask volitional control in case of paresis. Currently, spasticity is managed in a variety of ways (2) . These methods include drug therapy, chemical and surgical denervation, physical therapy, and sometimes surgical alteration of tendons . The physical therapy treatment involves passive exercise of the spas