Effect of electrical stimulation on spasticity in hemiparetic patients.

Cyclical electrical stimulation has been applied to 10 hemiparetic patients with clinical signs of knee joint spasticity. The programme included 30 minutes of stimulation to the hamstrings followed by another 30 minutes of stimulation to the hamstrings and quadriceps. None of the patients experienced increased spasticity. The reduction in spasticity ranged from none to substantial with some other beneficial side-effects. No conclusions could be drawn as to whether hamstring stimulation is preferred to combined stimulation or to quadriceps stimulation alone. It is suggested that small portable stimulators be introduced for chronic use in spastic patients after an optimum stimulation regimen is individually established for each patient.