Article

Orthoses are commonly prescribed for the management of spasticity but their
neurophysiologic effect on spasticity remains unsubstantiated. The purpose of
this study was to investigate the effect of three tone-reducing devices (dynamic
foot orthosis, muscle stretch,
and orthokinetic compression garment) on soleus
muscle reflex excitability while standing in patients with spasticity following
stroke. A repeated measures intervention study was conducted on 13 patients with
stroke selected from a sample of convenience. A custom-made dynamic foot
orthosis, a range of motion walker to stretch the soleus muscle and class 1 and
class 2 orthokinetic compression garments were assessed using the ratio of
maximum Hoffmann reflex amplitude to maximum M-response amplitude (Hmax:Mmax) to
determine their effect on soleus muscle reflex excitability. Only 10 subjects
were able to complete the testing. There were no significant treatment effects
for the interventions (F=1.208, df=3.232, p=0.328);
however, when analyzed
subject-by-subject, two subjects responded to the dynamic foot orthosis and one
of those two subjects also responded to the class 1 orthokinetic compression
garment. Overall, the results demonstrated that the tone-reducing devices had no
significant effect on soleus reflex excitability suggesting that these
tone-reducing orthotic devices have no significant neurophysiologic effect on
spasticity.

Langue : ANGLAIS