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Effect of Joint Mobilization on Alpha Motoneuron Reflex Excitability

NCT01153022 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 24

Last updated 2010-06-29

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Objective: To determine the effect of ankle joint mobilization on the alpha motoneuron reflex excitability of the soleus muscle in people with spasticity.

Subjects and Methods: A controlled clinical trial with crossover design and simple masking was conducted in 24 randomized subjects to initiate the control or experimental group. Traction and rhythmic oscillation were applied for five minutes to the ankle joint. Alpha motoneuron reflex excitability was assessed by measuring H wave amplitude (Hoffmann reflex - H reflex), stimulating the tibial nerve at the level of the popliteal fossa and recording in the soleus muscle. In each subject 12 measurements were taken: basal rate, during and after mobilization. Changes in alpha motoneuron reflex excitability were calculated in relation to basal measurement. For each measurement a hypothesis test was performed (Student t test).

Results: In groups of patients with brain injury (BI) and incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI), a significant difference was found between measurements of both studies, concerning variation in alpha motoneuron reflex excitability during the application of joint mobilization techniques, with a decrease in the experimental group and an increase in the control group. In contrast, no significant differences were found after mobilization therapy. Patients with complete spinal cord injury (CSCI) showed no significant differences in any measurements.

Conclusion: We demonstrate the effectiveness of passive movement in the decrease of muscle tone during the mobilization maneuver in patients with BI or ISCI, but no residual effect after completion of the trial. This research project showed no evidence regarding spasticity reduction in complete spinal cord injuries. This suggests that therapeutic interventions to decrease muscle tone, based on the passive exercise and stimulation of proprioceptors should be reconsidered.

Conditions

  • Muscle Spasticity
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Stroke
  • Craniocerebral Trauma

Interventions

OTHER

joint mobilization techniques

In the experimental group, ankle joint mobilization was applied for five minutes, using grade II joint traction rhythmic oscillation (Mailland Scale) with the knee in 15° of flexion, subtalar in neutral and ankle in resting position (10º plantarflexion). During the control study, participants were placed under the same conditions as those of the experimental group but only the hands of the evaluator were placed in the foot, in the position of joint traction simulation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Universidad Autónoma de Manizales, Colombia

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Julio E Pérez, Master · Universidad Autónoma de Manizales

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2008-02-29
Primary Completion
2009-03-31
Completion
2009-03-31

Countries

  • Colombia

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01153022 on ClinicalTrials.gov