A Comparative Study between Short Term Effects of Single Application of High and Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Spinal Spasticity

Randomized clinical trial.

To study the changes in Modified Ashworth Scale, DTR scale and Clonus scale after the application of high frequency, low frequency and placebo TENS over the common peroneal nerve behind the head of fibula.

Number of subjects – 30 (10 in each group 1, 2 and 3), 20 males and 10 females, in the age group 20 to 46years

Portable TENS equipment, ES-320, manufactured by ITO Co. LTD. Japan, Two rubber electrodes, Conducting gel, Velcro strap, Cotton swab, Knee hammer

The subjects were randomly allocated into three groups 1, 2 and 3. Group 1 received high frequency TENS, Group 2 received low frequency TENS, Group 3 received given placebo TENS. Spasticity was measured both before and after the intervention and the difference between the three groups was analysed Scales Used, Modified Ashworth Scale, DTR Rating Scale, Clonus Rating Scale

Oneway Analysis Of Variance was used to find out the difference between the three groups and paired sample t-test was used to compare the spasticity grading before and after the intervention within the group. A significant level of p< 0.05 was fixed.

The study shows that there was significant decrease in the modified ashworth and the DTR scores in group 1 patients. However there was no significant change in pre and post intervention clonus scores. There was no significant difference between the pre and post intervention modified ashworth, DTR and clonus scores in neither group 2 nor in group3

From this study we conclude that high frequency is more effective as compared to low frequency TENS application over the common peronneal nerve to temporarily decrease gastrosoleus muscle spasticity in spinal cord injury patients.