Modulation of Upper Limb Spasticity Post-Stroke
Spasticity as Sequela of Stroke, Spastic Hemiplegia, Upper Extremity Dysfunction
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Spasticity as Sequela of Stroke focused on measuring Spasticity , Stroke ,Upper Extremity,Rehabilitation.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
The inclusion criteria were as follow:
- Participants were diagnosed as chronic stroke patients.
- Participants were selected to be in the spastic phase, 6-24 months following a first stroke.
- The degree of spasticity in the affected upper limbs, was ranged between grades (1, 1+&2) according to Modified Ashworth Scale.
- Participants were all between 50 and 60 years old, of both sexes.
- Participants were cognitively able to understand and follow instructions.
- Participants had the ability to extend their wrist joints at least 20° and fingers 10° from full flexion. This range allowed participants to engage easily in performing a designed functional program.
Exclusion Criteria:
The exclusion criteria were as follow:
- Participants who were with any orthopaedic condition or fixed deformity that interfere with the upper limb functions.
- Participants who were with spasticity more than score 2 according to the Modified Ashworth Scale.
- Participants who had cognitive or perceptual problems.
- Participants with surgical interference for the upper limb and spine within the previous 2 years.
- Participants with seizures, visual impairments, or auditory problems.
- Participants who had shoulder pain on a visual analogue scale of > 6/10.
- Participants who had Botulinum Toxin in the upper extremity musculature six months before baseline assessment.
Sites / Locations
- Ehab Abd El Kafy
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Experimental
Control Group
Experimental Group
Participants who participated in the control group received a traditional physical therapy program for two hours. It included two parts, each of them was one hour and few minutes rest in between. The first part included: reflex inhibiting patterns, strengthening activities, stretching exercises, and postural reactions exercises. The second part included: arm-reaching tasks, arm-hand tasks, hand manipulative tasks for the more affected upper limb through performing functional tasks of daily living activities. The traditional intervention was carried out three sessions per week for twelve successive weeks.
Participants of the experimental group have received two hours treatment program that included three parts, the first and the second parts were similar to that applied for participants in the control group for one hour followed by few minutes rest, then the third part was applied for one hour. The third part included a virtual reality intervention program by using virtual reality equipment to simulate a range of upper limb tasks related to arm-hand activities and hand manipulative tasks through using different games and soft-wares. The treatment program for the experimental group was carried out three sessions per week for twelve successive weeks.