Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: The aim of this study was to assess changes in muscle properties after a single session of capacitive and resistive energetic transfer (TECAR) therapy on spastic gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles in chronic post-stroke. Methods: A total of 36 chronic stroke survivors with lower limb h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Biomedicines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/11/2973 |
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| author | Laura García-Rueda Rosa Cabanas-Valdés Carina Salgueiro Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz Albert Pérez-Bellmunt Carlos López-de-Celis |
| author_facet | Laura García-Rueda Rosa Cabanas-Valdés Carina Salgueiro Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz Albert Pérez-Bellmunt Carlos López-de-Celis |
| author_sort | Laura García-Rueda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The aim of this study was to assess changes in muscle properties after a single session of capacitive and resistive energetic transfer (TECAR) therapy on spastic gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles in chronic post-stroke. Methods: A total of 36 chronic stroke survivors with lower limb hypertonia were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The experimental group (<i>n</i> = 18) received a single 30 min session of TECAR therapy in combination with functional massage (FM) on the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles. The control group (<i>n</i> = 18) received a sham treatment of TECAR therapy (without electrical stimulation) in combination with real FM. The primary outcome was muscle tone of the lower limb muscles assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The secondary outcomes were goniometric degrees of the MAS (goniometer), neuromuscular properties of the gastrocnemius/quadriceps (myotonometer), and passive range of motion (inclinometer). All measurements were performed at baseline (T0), immediately after treatment (T1), and at 30 min post-treatment (T2) by a blinded assessor. Results: The MAS score ankle dorsiflexion significantly decreased at T0–T1 (<i>p</i> = 0.046), and the change was maintained at T0–T2 (<i>p</i> = 0.019) in the experimental group. Significant improvements were noted in the passive range of motion for knee flexion (<i>p</i> = 0.012) and ankle dorsiflexion (<i>p</i> = 0.034) at T2. In addition, knee flexion improved at T1 (<i>p</i> = 0.019). Conclusion: A single session of Tecar therapy at the same time with FM on the gastrocnemius and rectus femoris immediately reduces muscle tone and increases the passive range of motion of both ankle and knee in chronic stroke survivors. There were no significant changes in the neuromuscular properties measured with myotonometer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:59:54Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:59:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-3860f8d308f94cc29280bb43977cac082023-11-24T14:31:00ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592023-11-011111297310.3390/biomedicines11112973Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled TrialLaura García-Rueda0Rosa Cabanas-Valdés1Carina Salgueiro2Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz3Albert Pérez-Bellmunt4Carlos López-de-Celis5Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat International de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, SpainClínica de Neurorehabilitación Sant Cugat del Vallés, 08195 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat International de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat International de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat International de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, SpainBackground: The aim of this study was to assess changes in muscle properties after a single session of capacitive and resistive energetic transfer (TECAR) therapy on spastic gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles in chronic post-stroke. Methods: A total of 36 chronic stroke survivors with lower limb hypertonia were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The experimental group (<i>n</i> = 18) received a single 30 min session of TECAR therapy in combination with functional massage (FM) on the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles. The control group (<i>n</i> = 18) received a sham treatment of TECAR therapy (without electrical stimulation) in combination with real FM. The primary outcome was muscle tone of the lower limb muscles assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The secondary outcomes were goniometric degrees of the MAS (goniometer), neuromuscular properties of the gastrocnemius/quadriceps (myotonometer), and passive range of motion (inclinometer). All measurements were performed at baseline (T0), immediately after treatment (T1), and at 30 min post-treatment (T2) by a blinded assessor. Results: The MAS score ankle dorsiflexion significantly decreased at T0–T1 (<i>p</i> = 0.046), and the change was maintained at T0–T2 (<i>p</i> = 0.019) in the experimental group. Significant improvements were noted in the passive range of motion for knee flexion (<i>p</i> = 0.012) and ankle dorsiflexion (<i>p</i> = 0.034) at T2. In addition, knee flexion improved at T1 (<i>p</i> = 0.019). Conclusion: A single session of Tecar therapy at the same time with FM on the gastrocnemius and rectus femoris immediately reduces muscle tone and increases the passive range of motion of both ankle and knee in chronic stroke survivors. There were no significant changes in the neuromuscular properties measured with myotonometer.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/11/2973Tecar therapystrokespasticityfunctional massagefunctionalitycapacitive–resistive electric transfer therapy |
| spellingShingle | Laura García-Rueda Rosa Cabanas-Valdés Carina Salgueiro Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz Albert Pérez-Bellmunt Carlos López-de-Celis Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial Biomedicines Tecar therapy stroke spasticity functional massage functionality capacitive–resistive electric transfer therapy |
| title | Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | immediate effects of tecar therapy on gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles with spastic hypertonia in chronic stroke survivors a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Tecar therapy stroke spasticity functional massage functionality capacitive–resistive electric transfer therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/11/2973 |
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