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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Stroke
Sec. Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation
Volume 4 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fstro.2025.1534600
Tracking Spasticity Dynamics in Hemiparetic Stroke Survivors Following Cyproheptadine Administration: A Pilot Study Using Controlled Varying Tendon Indentation Depths
Provisionally accepted- 1 Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States
- 2 Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois, United States
This study evaluates the potential of the Linmot® tapper as a precise tool for tracking spasticity changes in hemiparetic stroke survivors following cyproheptadine HCl administration. Spasticity, a significant health concern among stroke survivors, is characterized by increased muscle tone due to upper motor neuron dysfunction. Conventional clinical assessments, such as the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), often lack the sensitivity to accurately monitor treatment. In this study, we utilized the Linmot® tapper to assess the stretch reflex threshold (SRT) in three stroke survivors and one control subject by progressively altering tendon indentation to change muscle length. The SRT was defined as the indentation depth at which consistent reflex responses of the biceps brachii were observed, as indicated by reflex force or rectified integrated EMG (RIEMG) signals. Measurements were taken at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 hours after drug administration. Results showed significant increases in SRT following cyproheptadine administration, indicating reduced motor neuron excitability and highlighting the drug's effect on spasticity. Both reflex force and RIEMG data consistently captured these changes, while MAS grades remained unchanged. The high correlation between SRTs derived from force and EMG further supports the tool's accuracy in detecting subtle neuromuscular changes. These findings highlight that the Linmot® tapper offers a precise, quantitative method for monitoring spasticity dynamics, providing a more accurate alternative to conventional clinical assessments and demonstrating potential for enhancing stroke rehabilitation strategies.
Keywords: Stretch reflex threshold, Deep tendon reflex, stroke rehabilitation, Spasticity, Cyproheptadine HCl
Received: 27 Nov 2024; Accepted: 31 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Bae, Chardon, Roth, Rymer and Suresh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Nina L Suresh, Northwestern University, Evanston, 60208, Illinois, United States
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