ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Reduction of spasticity is helpful for improving the functional activities and this can be achieved by various techniques. Biceps spasticity is the most common disability in upper limb of a hemiplegic patient, which hinders the ROM at elbow and thus affecting the function of the upper limb as a whole. Biceps spasticity can be reduced effectively by crossed reciprocal inhibition technique. The purpose of this study is to find out the efficacy of crossed reciprocal inhibition in reducing the spasticity in biceps brachi.

Methods: Thirty hemiplegic patients were randomly assigned into experimental group that received crossed reciprocal inhibition (n=15) and the control group that received conventional therapy (n=15). Both groups received 30 minutes of either one of the training for 15 days. Treatment outcomes were assessed and compared by measuring the spasticity reduction with the help of Modified Ashworth scale and Goniometry for ROM at Elbow.

Results: After 15 days of treatment period, the experimental group patients scored significantly higher improvements than the conventional group for spasticity reduction as per the statistical analysis (P=0.05), and ROM at elbow has also showed considerable improvement. Conclusion: Crossed reciprocal inhibition technique is comparatively more efficient in reducing biceps spasticity in hemiplegics over conventional techniques.

Keywords: Crossed reciprocal inhibition, Hemiplegia, Modified Ashworth Scale, Spasticity.