Influence of Myofacial Release Versus Maintained Stretch on Wrist Flexors Spasticity Measured with Modified Tardieu Scale in Patients with Stroke – A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Stroke is defined as a neurological deficit due to an acute focal injury of the central nervous system caused by a vascular aetiology, including infarction, intracerebral haemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. One-sided weakness can affect arms, hands, legs and facial muscles; may have trouble performing everyday activities such as eating & dressing. One-sided weakness in arms, hands, face, chest, legs or feet can cause loss of balance. There are so many studies conducted on wrist flexors and spasticity but no one compare the effect of myofascial release and maintained stretch inhibitory technique in stroke patients by using Modified Tardieu scale as a outcome measure.

Methodology: A Pilot study was conducted on 12 chronic stroke patients in tertiary care Hospital; with purposive sampling techniques. Patients were divided into 3group by envelop method. Both 20 to 55 years old males & females, subacute & chronic first ever stroke patients, patients with increased tone in wrist flexors, who have normal cognitive function patients were included in study & hemiplegic stroke, sensory loss patients who have any other musculoskeletal deformity, cardiac vascular related conditions, patients on oral medication to release spasticity were excluded from the study.

Result: Comparison between Myofascial Release, Stretching & Conventional treatment were helped to relieve wrist muscles spasticity in stroke patients. Mean value of Post score of R2-R1 was 15±4.08 for Group A, for Group B it was 11.25 ± 4.78 & for Group C it was 3.5±3.10. Within group it was not shown any significant difference.

Conclusion: Myofascial Release, Stretching & Conventional shows slight improvement in reducing spasticity but comparing other techniques Myofascial Release is more helpful to reduce wrist flexor spasticity in patients with stroke.