Deep Pressure, General Relaxation, Hypertonia, Muscle, Muscle Activity, Stroke
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of - both constant as intermittent - local application of deep pressure on muscle activity and general relaxation in persons with hypertonia following stroke.
Detailed description
This study will be carried out in 20 persons with hypertonia following stroke. There will be one single test occasion, during which 6 test trials will be performed in random order. Deep pressure will be applied by means of a Johnstone air splint, that will be (1) not inflated, (2) inflated constantly, or (3) inflated intermittently. Each of these 3 inflation conditions will be performed twice, i.e. with and without a non-hemiplegic arm movement (triggering hypertonia at hemiplegic side).
Interventions
DEVICEconstant deep pressure applied by an air splint
inflation of the Johnstone air splint gives a constant local deep pression on the hemiplegic arm
DEVICEintermittent deep pressure applied by an air splint
continuous inflation and deflation of the Johnstone air splint gives an intermittent local deep pression on the hemiplegic arm
DEVICEuninflated air splint
no deep pressure applied by the air splint
OTHERcontralateral movement
non-hemiplegic arm is flexed and extended 5 times, with a weight of 5kg in the hand, in order to trigger hypertonia in the hemiplegic arm
Sponsors
University Ghent
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* subacute stroke (\<6 months) * hypertonia (Modified Ashworth Scale score of ≥2 for arm flexors at the hemiplegic side)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| subjective rating of hypertonia | through study completion, an average of 5 months | visual analogue scale rating of the intensity of hypertonia, in which the degree of hypertonia has to be situated between 0 (no hypertonia) and 10 (very severe hypertonia) |
| heart rate variability | through study completion, an average of 5 months | heart rate variability assessed with the Zehpyr bioharness |
| respiratory rate | through study completion, an average of 5 months | respiratory rate assessed with the Zehpyr bioharness |
| EMG of biceps brachii | through study completion, an average of 5 months | electromyographic frequency analysis of biceps brachii muscle activity at the hemiplegic side |
| EMG of triceps brachii | through study completion, an average of 5 months | electromyographic frequency analysis of triceps brachii muscle activity at the hemiplegic side |
| EMG of pectoralis major | through study completion, an average of 5 months | electromyographic frequency analysis of pectoralis major muscle activity at the hemiplegic side |
| MyotonPRO measurement of pectoralis major muscle tone | through study completion, an average of 5 months | MyotonPRO measurement of pectoralis major muscle tone |
| heart rate | through study completion, an average of 5 months | heart rate measurement assessed with the Zehpyr bioharness |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MyotonPRO measurement of pectoralis major elasticity | through study completion, an average of 5 months | MyotonPRO measurement of pectoralis major elasticity |
| MyotonPRO measurement of pectoralis major stiffness | through study completion, an average of 5 months | MyotonPRO measurement of pectoralis major stiffness |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed