EFFECT OF VIBRATION STIMULUS ON SPASTICITY IN POST STROKE HEMIPLEGIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Physical treatment such as vibration has been proposed as possible non-pharmacological way to control spasticity. The aim of the study was 1) can a selective vibration of the lower limb Dorsiexors of foot and quadriceps, reduce the spasticity of the plantar exors and hamstrings muscle; 2) is vibrations association with physiotherapy better than physiotherapy alone in reducing spasticity. This was a Pre Post study design wherein all the patients were taken from OPD in Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32 Chandigarh, India. Atotal of Sixty post stroke hemiplegic patients were taken for the study. Method. (VIB + PT) group A received physiotherapy plus vibration by means of a hand held vibrator applied over the belly of the Dorsiexors of leg and belly of Quadriceps muscle of the spastic side (contact surface 2 cm2; frequency 100 Hz; amplitude 2 mm; mean pressure 250 mBar). Control group B received conventional physiotherapy treatment alone. Both groups had 45 minutes of physiotherapy including Bobath therapy, muscle lengthening stretching exercises for 5 days a week for 2 weeks.Main Outcome Measure was Spasticity measurement by Modied Ashworth scale for both the groups before starting treatment and after the end of 2 weeks. Results: Fisher's exact test showed a statistically non signicant improvements in the (VIB + PT) group (p≥0.05) compared to in the (PT) group after 2 weeks of treatment for the Modied Ashworth scale. AlthoughStuart Maxwell Test showed that there was a statistically signicant difference within Group A i.e. Vibration plus Conventional physiotherapy with (p≤0.05) Conclusion. 1) 100 Hz vibration applied to the Dorsiexors of foot and Quadriceps muscle of a spastic lower limb in association with physiotherapy is able to reduce the spasticity of the exor agonist i.e. plantar exors and hamstrings 2) this association is not better than physiotherapy alone in controlling spasticity. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact :100 Hz antagonist muscle vibration, a non-pharmacological treatment, can help physiotherapy to reduce exors spasticity in the rehabilitation of lower limb spasticity.