Abstract
Background Spasticity is a common impairment following spinal cord injury
(SCI) that negatively affects the activity of daily livings (ADLs). Focal muscle
vibration (FMV) has beneficial effects in reducing spasticity post-stroke.
Objectives This case report aimed to investigate the effects of 8-week FMV
on spasticity and ADLs in a single patient with an incomplete spinal cord
injury.
Case description The patient was a 26-year-old man with 6-month post-SCI.
Twenty-four sessions of FMV were provided for 15 minutes per session.
Outcome measures included the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Barthel
Index (BI).
Findings The FMV treatment resulted in spasticity reduction of biceps
muscle (reduction from 2 to 1+point median), quadriceps (reduction from
2 to 1 point median), and dorsiflexors (reduction from 3 to 1+point
median) as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale. The activity of daily
livings assessed by the Barthel Index (improved from 67 to 79 points median)
postintervention and at follow-up.
Conclusions This case report demonstrates that FMV reduces spasticity and
improves the activity of daily livings in patients with incomplete spinal cord
injury. Further research is needed in a larger patient population to verify our
findings.
Keywords
Spinal cord - Spasticity - Rehabilitation - activity of daily living - therapy
