Immediate therapeutic effect of interferential current therapy on spasticity, balance, and gait function in chronic stroke patients: a randomized control trial

• Published in: Clinical rehabilitation Vol. 28; no. 9; pp. 885 - 891
• Main Authors: Suh, Hye Rim, Han, Hee Chul, Cho, Hwi-young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.09.2014; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Balance; Chronic Disease; Clinical trials; Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods; Electrodes; Female; Gait; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - etiology; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - rehabilitation; Humans; Inpatients; Intervention; Lower Extremity - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Spasticity - etiology; Muscle Spasticity - rehabilitation; Physical therapy; Postural Balance; Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation Centers; Sensation Disorders - etiology; Sensation Disorders - rehabilitation; Spasticity; Stroke; Stroke - complications; Stroke Rehabilitation; South Korea; Stroke; spasticity; balance; interferential current therapy (ICT); gait
• ISSN: 0269-2155; 1477-0873; 1477-0873
• DOI: 10.1177/0269215514523798

Objective: To determine whether a single trial of interferential current therapy (ICT) can immediately alleviate spasticity and improve balance and gait performance in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation in a local center. Subjects: A total of 42 adult patients with chronic stroke with plantar flexor spasticity of the lower limb. Intervention: The ICT group received a single 60-minute ICT stimulation of the gastrocnemius in conjunction with air-pump massage. In the placebo-ICT group, electrodes were placed and air-pump massage performed without electrical stimulation. Main measures: After a single ICT application, spasticity was measured immediately using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and balance and functional gait performance were assessed using the following clinical tools: Functional Reach Test (FRT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and 10-m Walk Test (10MWT). Results: Gastrocnemius spasticity significantly decreased in the ICT group than in the placebo-ICT group (MAS: ICT vs placebo-ICT: 1.55±0.76 vs 0.40±0.50). The ICT group showed significantly greater improvement in balance and gait abilities than the placebo-ICT group (FRT: 2.62±1.21 vs 0.61±1.34, BBS: 1.75±1.52 vs 0.40±0.88, TUG: 6.07±6.11 vs 1.68±2.39, 10MWT: 7.02±7.02 vs 1.96±3.13). Spasticity correlated significantly with balance and gait abilities (P < 0.05). Conclusion: A single trial of ICT is a useful intervention for immediately improving spasticity, balance, and gait abilities in chronic stroke patients, but not for long-term effects. Further study on the effects of repeated ICT is needed.