{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Immediate effects of TECAR therapy on lower limb to decrease hypertonia in chronic stroke survivors: a randomized controlled trial.
{Author}: García-Rueda L;Cabanas-Valdés R;Salgueiro C;Pérez-Bellmunt A;Rodríguez-Sanz J;López-de-Celis C;
{Journal}: Disabil Rehabil
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 3
{Factor}: 2.439
{DOI}: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2365992
{Abstract}: <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>To analyze immediate effects of TECAR therapy (TT) to reduce lower limb hypertonia and improve functionality in chronic post-stroke.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>It is a single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 36 chronic stroke survivors were divided into two groups. The experimental group received a single 30-minute session of TT with functional massage (FM) on lower limb. The control group received a single 30-minute session sham treatment of TT plus FM. The primary outcome measure was hypertonia (Modified Ashworth Scale, MAS). Secondary outcomes were gait speed (4-Meter Walk-Test), standing knee-flexion (Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale IV-item), change in weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion (Ankle Lunge Test, ALT), and functional lower limb strength (5-Times Sit-to-Stand Test). All measurements were performed at baseline, immediately and 30-minutes after treatment.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>There was a group-time interaction in MAS-knee (p = 0.044), MAS-ankle (p = 0.018) and ALT (p = 0.016) between T1 and T0 (p<.0001) and T2 and T0 (p<.0001) for the experimental group. There was a significant increase in ALT between T1 and T0 (p = 0.003) in the control group.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>A single session of TT performed at the same time as FM immediately reduces plantar-flexors and knee-extensor muscle hypertonia and increases change in weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion in chronic stroke survivors.<BR>Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (TECAR) therapy may improve ankle mobility in stroke survivors.TECAR therapy may improve knee mobility in post-stroke.TECAR therapy may reduce lower limb muscle tone in stroke survivors.TECAR therapy could be used in combination with physiotherapy as a safe technique for the immediate reduction of hypertonia in stroke survivors.