Comparative Analysis of the Effect between FES, RUSSA and AUSSIE Therapeutic Currents in Individuals with Hypertonia Spastic Post Stroke Case Study

Abstract

The effectiveness of treatment by means of electro-stimulation in patients with an increase of spasticity in the affected hemibody after a stroke has been presented in several studies, bringing about the need for conducting researches that seek the most effective electro-therapeutic treatment among those currently existing. This study aims to evaluate the spasticity, equilibrium, muscle activation, muscle efficiency and median frequency after immediate application of the RUSSA, FES and AUSSIE therapeutic method currently, reported being the most effective. Six individuals of the male sex between 40 years of age and older, were selected and divided into the following groups:  group treated with RG – RUSSA ("n = 2”), group treated with FG - FES ("n = 2”) and group treated with AG - AUSSIE ("n = 2”). Before and after electro-stimulation in order to assess the spasticity the Ashworth's Modified Scale was applied, for the evaluation of the equilibrium the Berg’s Balance Scale was utilised and to determine muscular activation, muscular efficiency and the median frequency, surface electromyography was applied. In this case, study considering we hold a small sample we utilised a comparison of the real values for each test, not conducting statistic tests. After a re-evaluation of the Ashworth's Modified scale no differences were found between the initial and final scores, In the Berg’s Balance Scale within both groups there was an improvement in equilibrium and after the application of the surface electromyography there was a lower muscular activity in the AG - AUSSIE group, better muscular efficiency in the AG – AUSSIE group and a decrease in median frequency in the FG - FES group. Up until the present moment, it may be noted that the current methods are effective, especially AUSSIE.