Functional electrical stimulation(FES) has been shown to increase muscle bulk and strength and prevent muscle atrophy in complete paraplegic patients. There are some controversies about the effects of FES on spasticity.

In order to assess the effects of FES on muscle strength and spasticity, 15 complete thoracic spinal cord injured patients were investigated in this study. The subjects were divided into two groups with 5 patients as a control group and 10 patients as a FES treatment group.

We measured the changes of peak torques of the knee extensors at the speed of 30°/sec, 60°/sec, 90°/sec, 120°/sec, and 150°/sec of isokinetic exercise. The changes of thigh circumferences and the changes of spasticity after a 6-week FES treatment period were recorded.

The results are as follows;

1) The peak torques of knee extensors at 30°/sec, 60°/sec, 90°/sec, 120°/sec, and 150°/sec of angular velocities were significantly increased in FES treatment group after 6 weeks of treatment compared to control group(p<0.05).

2) There was no statistical difference between two groups in the changes of thigh circumferences(p>0.05).

3) In the FES treatment group, 5 patients showed no change in spasticity, one showed decreased spasticity and 4 patients showed increased spasticity. 5 patients of control group showed no change in spasticity.

The above results may lead to the conclusion that functional electrical stimulation was helpful in increasing muscle strength in complete thoracic spinal cord injured patients. Additionally, there was a tendency of increasing spasticity with a long term functional electrical stimulation.