Effects of High-Intensity Electromagnetic Stimulation on Reducing Upper Limb Spasticity in Post-Stroke Patients

Viorela Mihaela Ciortea,Cosmina Ioana Bondor,Rodica Ana Ungur,Alina Deniza Ciubean,Eliza Bendea,Mădălina Gabriela Iliescu,Irina Motoașcă,Laszlo Irsay,Ileana Monica Borda,Izabela Lazăr

doi:10.3390/app12042125

Viorela Mihaela Ciortea, Cosmina Ioana Bondor + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app12042125

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Abstract

Super Inductive System (SIS) stimulation of spastic limbs by tissue-induced electromagnetic field may have the effect of reducing spasticity and improving functionality in patients with post-stroke spasticity. The aim of the study was to evaluate two different protocols for the application of SIS on upper limb spasticity after stroke. We included 60 patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity, who were randomized into two groups: the study group, with a 9 min application protocol (1 min for agonist muscles, 8 min for antagonistic muscles); and the control group, with an 8 min protocol applied only to the antagonistic muscles. The duration of therapy was 10 days, and the results were assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Barthel Index. Both the MAS and the Barthel Index improved significantly after 10 days of treatment (p < 0.001), but 30 days after the completion of therapy, there was an attenuation of the effects in both study groups. The study group had a significantly higher percentage of patients with improved MAS after 10 days (p = 0.004) and within 30 days (p < 0.001) than the control group. An SIS protocol applied on both agonist and antagonist muscles has a more pronounced and longer lasting spasticity-reducing and improved functionality effect than its application on only antagonistic muscles.

Highlights

Stroke is a serious health problem, being the world’s second leading cause of death, with 5.5 million deaths annually, according to World Health Organization statistics [1]
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether two different protocols of application of the high-intensity electromagnetic stimulation (Super Inductive System) as part of a physical therapy program can decrease spasticity and increase the muscle contraction force of the post-stroke spastic upper-limb
Median, * p obtained with Mann–Whitney test, ** p obtained with Chi-square test

Summary

Introduction

Stroke is a serious health problem, being the world’s second leading cause of death, with 5.5 million deaths annually, according to World Health Organization statistics [1] It is the leading cause of long-term disability in adult patients with neurological disorders [2]. 80% of strokes are ischemic, the most common disability being the motor deficit of the upper and lower limbs, and 50% of patients surviving post-stroke remain with a permanent disability [3]. This condition involves long-term rehabilitation treatments and, increased costs [4]. Most commonly between 3 months and 12 months, is reported to take place in one in four patients after an ischemic stroke, but no clear conclusion can be drawn about the consequences of late long-term rehabilitation in post-stroke patients [5]

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