Contralateral Strength Training as Preparation for Direct Strength Training in a Patient With Unilateral Foot-Drop Because of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report

Physical Therapy
Andrea MancaFranca Deriu

Abstract

Direct strength training (DST) is effective in managing unilateral weakness in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Its feasibility, however, is considerably reduced if one limb is too compromised to train. In this case, contralateral strength training (CST) of the unaffected side to induce a strength transfer to the untrained homologous muscles can help to establish a strength baseline in the weaker limb, eventually allowing direct training. Limited effects for CST, however, have been reported on patient functioning. We tested the effects on dynamometric, electromyographic, and functional outcomes of a sequential combination of CST and DST of the ankle dorsiflexors in a case of MS-related foot-drop. A 56-year-old man diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS exhibited severe weakness of the right dorsiflexors impairing functional dorsiflexion. The intervention consisted of a 6-week CST of the unaffected dorsiflexors followed by 2 consecutive 6-week DST cycles targeting the weaker dorsiflexors. At baseline, the participant could not dorsiflex his right ankle but could do so after CST. Maximal strength of the affected dorsiflexors increased by 80% following CST, by 31.1% following DST-1, and by a further 44.6% after DST-2. Neuromusc...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1997·Journal of Biomechanics·R M Enoka
Sep 17, 1999·Neurology·S R SchwidA D Goodman
Oct 12, 1999·Multiple Sclerosis : Clinical and Laboratory Research·M G BenedettiS Giannini
Oct 3, 2001·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·C P LambertW J Evans
Oct 18, 2006·Journal of Applied Physiology·Timothy J CarrollSimon C Gandevia
Jun 1, 2007·Neuromuscular Disorders : NMD·Vincent TiffreauJean-Yves Hogrel
May 30, 2009·Disability and Rehabilitation·Ylva NilsagårdKatrin Boström
Sep 20, 2011·Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport·Ashlee M HendyDawson J Kidgell
Jul 5, 2012·Multiple Sclerosis : Clinical and Laboratory Research·T KjølhedeU Dalgas
Mar 27, 2013·Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·Charlene R A MagnusJonathan P Farthing
Jun 14, 2013·Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development·Rebecca D LarsonLesley J White
Nov 19, 2013·Disability and Rehabilitation·Phu Dinh HoangRobert D Herbert
Oct 4, 2014·Journal of Applied Physiology·Dario FarinaRoger M Enoka
Feb 26, 2016·Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation·Monika EhrensbergerKenneth Monaghan
Apr 23, 2017·Journal of the Neurological Sciences·Mlk JørgensenL G Hvid
Jul 26, 2017·Disability and Rehabilitation·William RussellPatricia J Manns
Dec 26, 2017·Lancet Neurology·Alan J ThompsonJeffrey A Cohen
Jan 23, 2018·Frontiers in Physiology·Andrew D VigotskyTaian M Vieira
Sep 8, 2018·Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research·Andrea MancaFranca Deriu
Jun 30, 2019·Disability and Rehabilitation·Andrea Manca, Franca Deriu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Biomechanics

Biomechanics examines the generation of internal forces within the body and investigates the effects and control of forces that act on or are produced on tissues. Here are the latest discoveries.