Hirofumi Maeda, MD, Shigeru Sonoda, MD, PhD, Yutaka Tomita, PhD,
Shiho Mizuno, MD, PhD, Kotaro Takeda, PhD, Hiroyuki Miyasaka, OTR, PhD,
Genichi Tanino, RPT, MHSc, Abbas Orand, PhD, Kensuke Ohno, MEng
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 6: 118-123, 2015
Objective: The therapeutic effectiveness of phenol
motor point block in patients with spasticity of the
lower extremity was assessed by measuring ankle
plantar flexion torque. Patient factors influencing
therapeutic effectiveness were evaluated.
Methods: Twelve patients with spasticity of the lower
extremity after cerebrovascular disorders were enrolled
in this study. Plantar flexion torques at 5°/s or 90°/s under
passive ankle dorsiflexion were measured before and
after treatment with phenol motor block in flexor muscles
of the lower leg. Patient factors influencing therapeutic
effectiveness were evaluated before and after treatment
using torque changes as an indicator of therapeutic
effectiveness.
Results: Therapeutic effectiveness showed a
significantly negative correlation with plantar flexion
torques at 5°/s before treatment (ρ= -0.741, p = 0.006)
and with the time from onset (ρ= -0.680, p = 0.015). A
significantly positive correlation between therapeutic
effectiveness and presence of self-exercise (ρ= 0.661,
p = 0.019) was observed.
Conclusion: Patients who were less affected by
immobilization including those with small plantar
flexion torque at 5°/s or those who engaged in selfexercise
are expected to achieve large therapeutic
effects with regard to phenol motor point block against
spasticity of the lower extremity.
Key words: spasticity, plantar flexion torque, quantification, phenol motor point block, immobility