Active clinical trials for "Muscle Spasticity"

This study will examine the epidemiology (incidence and control of a disease), burden, clinical need, and treatment patterns of spasticity in patients with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy (CP), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The cutaneous silent period (CSP) is a brief transient suppression of the voluntary muscle contraction that follows a noxious cutaneous nerve stimulation. Studies in patients with central disorders of motor control such as dystonia and Parkinson's disease have shown CSP abnormalities indicating that supraspinal pathways influence this inhibitory spinal reflex. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between CSP parameters (duration and latency) and spasticity in stroke.

This study will be conducted to identify the relation between pelvic alignment and standing balance and also the relation between pelvic alignment and selective motor control in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

As human beings live longer, geriatric disease develop, one of which was stroke whose prevalence elevated by aging. Increased spasticity is a common symptom after stroke and may hinder patient from rehabilitation. The spasticity was evaluated by subjective judgement before. However, in the recent studies, the electrophysiological test, an objective evaluation, showed possibly positive correlation with the spasticity. They compared stroke patients' hemiplegic side with non-hemiplegic side by H/M ratio which showed significant difference. The stroke patients included in studies had stroke onset over 2 years. Therefore, investigators wonder if H/M ratio can evaluate spasticity in stroke patients onset within 2 years and if H/M ratio is correlated to spasticity.

This study is expected to contribute to the body of knowledge on the benefits of individuals with MS taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®). If patients have less spasticity when taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®), they may be more likely to have an improved quality of life. The hypotheses for this study are: Study participants who transition from interferon therapy to glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®) for a six month period will have a decrease in spasticity. Study participants who transition from interferon therapy to glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®) for a six month period will have a change in perceptions of the impact of spasticity on their lives.

Cerebellar ataxias (CA) and spastic paraplegias (SP) are genetically and clinically very heterogeneous. More than 40 loci are already known but the number of phenotypes is even greater suggesting further genetic heterogeneity. These progressive disorders are often severe and fatal, due to the absence of specific therapy. The SPATAX network combines the experience of European clinicians and scientists working on these groups of diseases. Over the past year, they have assembled the largest collection of families and achieved a number of tasks (initiation of a clinical and genetic database, distribution of DNA to participating laboratories, mapping of three new loci, and refinement of several loci). In addition to clinicians from Europe and Mediterranean countries, who play a major role in collecting families according to evaluation tools developed and validated by the SPATAX members, the group includes major European laboratories devoted to the elucidation of the molecular basis of these disorders. Each laboratory will centralize all families with a subtype of autosomal recessive (AR) CA (n=116) or SP (n=207) in order to efficiently map and identify the responsible gene(s). Genome-wide scans are already underway in 61 families. Given the expertise of the participants, the researchers expect to map and identify several genes during the course of this project. The spectrum of mutations and phenotype/genotype correlations will be analysed thanks to this unique series of patients with various phenotypes. The knowledge gained will be immediately applicable to patients in terms of improved positive diagnosis, follow-up and appropriate genetic counselling. In the long term, models for genetic entity will be developed in order to understand the pathophysiology and to identify new targets for treatment. The series of patients assembled and the precise knowledge of natural history will facilitate the implantation of therapeutic trials based on rational approaches.