effect of strengthening exercises on exaggerated muscle tonicity in chronic hemiparesis following stroke

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine quadriceps and gasterosoleous muscles tonicity problems in hemiparetic patients and the effects of strengthening exercises protocol in treatment of these impairments. In 2004, a clinical randomized trial was conducted in Tehran province, Iran. Thirty four-hemiparetic patients secondary to stroke aging 49.05 +/- 6.19 years participated in this trial. Patients were assigned randomly to either an experimental group or a control group and muscle strength [kg] were measured using hand held dynamometer and their muscle tone [ordinal] was graded on the Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] before and after 12 sessions of intervention. The experimental group received functional, balance and strengthening exercises protocol. The control group received functional and balance exercises protocol. In experimental group measure of quadriceps and gastrosoleous tonicity decreased from 1.88 +/- 1.05 to 0.82 +/- 0.88 and 3.06 +/- 1.43 to 1.65 +/- 1.11, respectively [p<0.0001]. Treatment was reduced gastrosoleous tone from 3.23 +/- 1.15 to 3 +/- 1 in the control group [p= 0.041]. Tonicity of both muscles decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group [p<0.0001]. Present results, in contrary with current opinions, support the effectiveness of lower limb muscle strength training to reduce the spasticity in addition to improving muscle strength in the chronic stage of stroke