Beneficial effects of footbaths in controlling spasticity after stroke |
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Authors: | Shuji Matsumoto Megumi Shimodozono Seiji Etoh Yurika Shimozono Nobuyuki Tanaka Kazumi Kawahira |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate school of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan;(2) Kirishima Rehabilitation Center, 3930-7, Takachiho, Makizono-cho, Kirishima 899-6603, Japan |
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Abstract: | Footbaths are considered to provide beneficial thermal therapy for post-stroke patients with spasticity, but their anti-spastic
effects have not been investigated comprehensively. The present study aimed to evaluate alterations in motor-neuron excitability
using F-wave parameters in post-stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia. Subjects’ legs below the knee joint were immersed
in water at 41°C and F-wave recordings were made over the abductor hallucis muscle before, immediately after, and 30 min after
thermal treatment. Antidromic stimulation was performed on the tibial nerve at the ankle. Measurements included F-wave amplitude,
F-wave/M-response ratio, changes in modified Ashworth scale (MAS), body temperature and surface-skin temperature. The mean
values of both F-wave parameters were higher on the affected side before footbath treatment. In post-stroke patients, the
mean values of F-wave parameters were significantly reduced after footbath treatment (P < 0.01). The anti-spastic effects of footbath treatment were indicated by decreased F-wave parameters, in parallel with decreases
in MAS. Body temperature was significantly increased both immediately after, and 30 min following footbath treatment in both
groups, which appeared to play an important role in decreased spasticity. Surface-skin temperature increased immediately after
footbath treatment in both groups and returned to baseline 30 min later. These findings demonstrate that the use of footbaths
is an effective nonpharmacological anti-spastic treatment that might facilitate stroke rehabilitation. |
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