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The study aims to investigate the influence of different postures on spasticity results by pendulum test in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The setting was at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil. Five individuals with SCI and five individuals in the control group were included. All individuals went through the pendulum test in three different positions: supine, semi-supine at an angle of 30°, and sitting up at an angle of 60°. An electrogoniometer was attached to the right leg for measurement of knee joint angles. All situations were performed five times. Blood pressure was monitored during tests. Relaxation index (RI), normalized relaxation index (RIn), test duration in seconds, initial flexion angle, and resting angle were analyzed at three different positions. Results were compared between different positions, and statistically no differences were found. In individuals with SCI, RI (1.83 ± 0.2), RIn (1.14 ± 0.13), and test duration values (13.95 ± 4.14), in sitting up position, were similar to the control group results. In sitting up position, patients showed spasticity reduction. However, the other two postures produce pain and increase blood pressure in patients with tetraplegia. Therefore, these postures should be avoided in patients with lesions above T6, due to possible autonomic dysreflexia symptoms.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury. METHODS: The study included eleven subjects with spinal cord injuries (C4 to T5). The modified Ashworth scale and pendulum test, which is accomplished through the Pendular Test Device - PTD (equipment which has a quartz crystal transducer accelerometer and optic fiber flexible electrogoniometer measuring the tensions and angular displacements). Patients underwent neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to the quadriceps muscle from fibular nerve, and the tests were administered before and after therapy. RESULTS: The data show a decrease in spasticity after NMES, with features such as increased variation between maximum and minimum peaks, i.e. increased amplitude of the curves. Furthermore, data from the subjective scale, and modified Ashworth scale after neuromuscular electrical stimulation also showed a reduction in the values of spasticity. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that NMES is effective in reducing spasticity immediately after completion. Level of Evidence II, Therapeutic Studies-Investigating the Results of Treatment .

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OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da estimulação elétrica neuromuscular na espasticidade nos pacientes com lesão medular.MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo onze sujeitos lesados medulares (C4 a T5). Foram utilizados para esta avaliação a escala modificada de Ashworth e o teste pendular, que foi realizado através do Dispositivo de Teste Pendular - DTP (o equipamento possui um acelerômetro de transdutores de cristais de quartzo e eletrogoniômetro de fibra óptica flexível que mede as tensões e os deslocamentos angulares). Os pacientes realizaram estimulação elétrica neuromuscular (EENM) nos músculos quadríceps e nervo fibular, sendo que os testes foram aplicados antes e após o procedimento.RESULTADOS: Os dados mostram uma diminuição da espasticidade após a EENM, com características tais como um aumento na variação entre o pico máximo e o mínimo, ou seja, aumento da amplitude das curvas. Além disso, os dados da escala subjetiva, e escala modificada de Ashworth, após a estimulação elétrica neuromuscular também apresentaram uma redução nos valores da espasticidade.CONCLUSÃO: Os dados sugerem que a EENM é eficaz para reduzir a espasticidade imediatamente após a sua realização. Nível de Evidência II, Estudos Terapêuticos -Investigação dos Resultados do Tratamento.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury.METHODS: The study included eleven subjects with spinal cord injuries (C4 to T5). The modified Ashworth scale and pendulum test, which is accomplished through the Pendular Test Device - PTD (equipment which has a quartz crystal transducer accelerometer and optic fiber flexible electrogoniometer measuring the tensions and angular displacements). Patients underwent neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to the quadriceps muscle from fibular nerve, and the tests were administered before and after therapy.RESULTS: The data show a decrease in spasticity after NMES, with features such as increased variation between maximum and minimum peaks, i.e. increased amplitude of the curves. Furthermore, data from the subjective scale, and modified Ashworth scale after neuromuscular electrical stimulation also showed a reduction in the values of spasticity.CONCLUSION: The data suggest that NMES is effective in reducing spasticity immediately after completion. Level of Evidence II, Therapeutic Studies-Investigating the Results of Treatment.

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OBJETIVO: Avaliar a estratégia das transferências de paraplégicos da cadeira de rodas. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo doze sujeitos lesados medulares (T2 a T12), aptos a realizar independentemente a transferência da cadeira de rodas para um tablado com um metro quadrado (m²) de área por meio metro de altura. As imagens de marcadores reflexivos nos pontos anatômicos foram capturadas por seis câmeras de infravermelho ProReflex e processadas através de um software específico (QTrac). Parâmetros cinemáticos do tronco, cabeça, ombros e cotovelos foram avaliados. RESULTADOS: Os dados analisados comparam o lado preferencial do sujeito para realizar a transferência com o lado não preferencial, de acordo com as funções desempenhadas de cada segmento corporal. O deslocamento angular da cabeça no plano sagital (y-z) e ombros no plano transversal (x-y) mostraram significâncias estatísticas (p<0,05). Conclusão: Os dados obtidos neste estudo mostraram que há diferenças na estratégia da transferência dos paraplégicos do lado preferencial em comparação com o lado não preferencial. Nível de Evidência II, Desenvolvimento de critérios diagnósticos em pacientes consecutivos (com padrão de evidência "ouro" aplicado).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the transfer strategy of paraplegic subjects from their wheelchairs. METHODS: Twelve thoracic spinal cord injured subjects participated in this study (T2 to T12). The subjects were able to independently transfer from a wheelchair to a one square meter (m2) table, half a meter in height. Images of reflexive anatomic markers were captured by six ProReflex infrared cameras and processed using a QTRac Capture software. Kinematic parameters of the trunk, head, shoulders and elbows were evaluated. RESULTS: The data analyzed compared the subjects' preferential side for performing transfers, according to the functions performed by each body segment. Angular displacement of the head on sagittal plan (y-z), and the shoulders on the transversal plan (x-y), showed statistical differences (p<0.05). Conclusion: the data obtained on this study showed that there are differences in transfer strategies of paraplegic subjects to their preferential side, in comparison with the non-preferential side. Level of Evidence II, Development of diagnostic criteria on consecutive patients (with universally applied reference "gold" standard).

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