Reduction in spasticity in stroke patient with paraffin therapy.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of the study was to confirm whether paraffin therapy offer clinical value in the treatment of spasticity due to stroke.

METHODS:

Fifty-two patients with spasticity in the upper limb were included. The patients were randomized into the experimental group with paraffin therapy (n = 27) and the control group with placebo therapy (n = 25). The outcome measures besides temperature examination were undertaken at time points of 0 (T0), 2 (T1) and 4 weeks (T2) following therapy treatment. The extent of spasticity was measured using Modified Ashworth Score (MAS) during passive movement at the shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger joints. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the hemiplegic upper limb pain and functional activity of the upper limb motor function was evaluated by Brunnstrom recovery stage. All adverse events were recorded.

RESULTS:

MAS decreased significantly in Exp group compared with Con group, at the time points of T1 and T2, both before and immediately after paraffin therapy. Paraffin treatment failed to show remarkable improvement in pain compared with placebo-treated patient at movement at any time point. But VAS in Exp exhibited a tendency to decrease over time in shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. With regard to the Brunnstrom score, patients in Exp showed significant improvement at the end of trial compared to the beginning. The values of temperature showed significant increment immediately after paraffin therapy at each time point in Exp group.

CONCLUSION:

Paraffin therapy may be a kind of noninvasive, promising method to reduce spasticity of stroke patients.

• Authors: Jing Wang, Peng Yu, Ming Zeng, Xudong Gu, Yan Liu, Mingyue Xiao
• Journal: Neurological research (Neurol Res) Vol. 39 Issue 1 Pg. 36-44 (Jan 2017) ISSN: 1743-1328 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27876449 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Paraffin

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analysis of Variance
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Body Temperature (drug effects)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle Spasticity (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, etiology)
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care
• Paraffin (therapeutic use)
• Stroke (complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
• Visual Analog Scale