Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Topical anesthesia: a possible treatment method for spasticity

M A Sabbahi, C J De Luca, W R Powers

    Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
    |July 1, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    A model of motoneuron behavior and muscle-force generation for sustained isometric contractions.

    Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference·2012
    Same author

    Cervical multisegmental motor responses in healthy subjects.

    Spinal cord·2012
    Same author

    Influence of proprioceptive feedback on the firing rate and recruitment of motoneurons.

    Journal of neural engineering·2011
    Same author

    Thoracolumbar multisegmental motor responses in the upper and lower limbs in healthy subjects.

    Spinal cord·2010
    Same author

    Recruitment threshold and muscle fiber conduction velocity of single motor units.

    Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology·2010
    Same author

    Topical anesthetic-induced improvements in the mobility of patients with muscular hypertonicity: Preliminary results.

    Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology·2010
    Same journal

    Trends in Intrinsic Capacity: Evidence from 32 Countries.

    Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·2026
    Same journal

    Cost-Effectiveness of Post-Acute Stroke Rehabilitation From a U.S. Healthcare Payer Perspective: Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Versus Skilled Nursing Facilities.

    Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·2026
    Same journal

    Sociodemographic Determinants of Food Insecurity and Its Association with BMI in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the All of Us Research Program.

    Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·2026
    Same journal

    The effectiveness of perioperative respiratory muscle exercise in elderly cardiac surgery patients: a randomized controlled trial.

    Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·2026
    Same journal

    Correlates of Loneliness in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury.

    Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·2026
    Same journal

    Promoting Client-Centered Communication in Rehabilitation: Strategies for Managing Difficult Conversations.

    Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation·2026
    See all related articles

    Topical anesthesia reduced leg muscle spasticity in a stroke patient. This suggests that blocking skin sensations can improve motor function by altering nerve signals.

    Area of Science:

    • Neurology
    • Neurophysiology
    • Rehabilitation Medicine

    Background:

    • Hemiparesis following middle cerebral artery embolic infarction often presents with significant muscle spasticity.
    • Muscle spasticity complicates gait and motor function, impacting patient mobility and quality of life.

    Observation:

    • Application of topical anesthesia to the leg and thigh of a hemiparetic patient.
    • Measurement of joint angular displacement during a full gait cycle before and after anesthesia.

    Findings:

    • Topical anesthesia application resulted in a substantial shift towards normal angular displacement in ankle and knee joints.
    • This improvement in joint movement indicated a significant reduction in muscle spasticity, confirmed by clinical tests.
    • Neurophysiologic studies suggested that reduced cutaneous sensory input modulated alpha-gamma motoneuron interactions, mediating the decrease in muscle hypertonicity.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Implications:

    • Topical anesthesia may be a viable non-invasive method for managing spasticity in hemiparetic patients.
    • Modulating cutaneous afferent pathways offers a potential therapeutic target for improving motor function after stroke.
    • Findings support the role of sensory input in the pathophysiology of spasticity and suggest new avenues for rehabilitation strategies.