Introduction: Stroke has long-lasting and profound effects on the patient with the greatest impact attributable to impaired neurologic function. Stroke survivors frequently have an upper motor neuron syndrome that arises as a consequence of lesions in the central nervous system. Spasticity resulting from upper motor neuron syndrome causes secondary complications, such as contractures, muscle weakness, and pain which combined contribute to the patient’s greater dependence on the family members and caregivers. TENS has been hypothesized to modulate spasticity by various mechanisms, such as reducing stretch reflex excitability and increasing presynaptic inhibition. However, the evidence for the effectiveness of TENS on spasticity varies. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to determine the effects of TENS on spasticity in patients after stroke based on a review of a given literature. Methods: The literature research was based on peer-reviewed articles using PEDro, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases in the English language. The following keywords were used: TENS, spasticity, stroke, cerebrovascular insult. Results: After the literature review, we included six studies that met the inclusion criteria. In four studies, the effects of conventional TENS along with neurophysiotherapy interventions and placebo TENS along with neurophysiotherapy interventions were assessed. In one study, the authors assessed the effects of acupuncture TENS and placebo TENS along with task related training, acupuncture TENS as stand-alone therapy and when subjects were without other therapies. The authors of one study investigated the effects of 30- and 60-minute use of conventional TENS along with task related training when subjects administered the latter as a stand-alone therapy. The results of the reviewed studies showed a greater reduction in spasticity in the groups where subjects received TENS along with neurophysiotherapy interventions compared to control groups which did not receive TENS. A study comparing the results of the 30- and 60-minute application of TENS found that the latter was more effective in reducing spasticity in patients in the chronic phase after stroke. Discussion and conclusion: In this review, none of the included studies achieved minimal clinically important difference in the assessment of the effects of TENS on muscle spasticity after stroke. We suggest to investigate the impact of TENS on upper limb spasticity and its effectiveness in the subacute phase after stroke and to evaluate its effects over a longer period of time and on a larger number of subjects.
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