ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of tibial nerve vibration on triceps surae spasticity in stroke survivors and its electrophysiological mechanism.Methods:Thirty stroke survivors with upper limb spasticity were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given routine rehabilitation training while the treatment group was additionally provided with local vibration of the tibial nerve with an amplitude of 0.3mm at 60Hz. Before and after the treatment, the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and Clonus grading were used to assess muscle tone and spasticity. Electrophysiological functions were evaluated using the tibial nerve motor and sensory conduction test and F wave and H reflex sensing.Results:Before the treatment there were no significant differences between the two groups in their average MAS scores, Clonus grading, maximum H amplitude (Hmax), the ratio of maximum H to maximum M amplitude (H/M) or the intensity of stimulus required to elicit Hmax. After the treatment, however, all of those measurements had improved significantly in both groups with the average improvements in the treatment group significantly greater than those in the control group.Conclusions:Local vibration of the tibial nerve combined with traditional rehabilitation is more effective than traditional rehabilitation alone in relieving triceps surae spasticity and reducing muscle tone after a stroke. The vibration seems to inhibit excitation of the reflex pathway.