The Effectiveness of Circumferential Pressure using Sphygmomanometer on Spasticity and Gait Pattern among Post Stroke patients – A Feasibility Study

Background: One of the most prevalent issues associated with stroke syndrome is spasticity, which can lead to functional restrictions such impaired hand dexterity, abnormal gait, and imbalance. According to Rood's method, deep pressure is a proprioceptive inhibitory strategy. Manual pressure exerted onto the tendon insertion point of a muscle or along its length has been demonstrated to decrease motor neuron excitability in individuals with central nervous system disorders, which generates an inhibitory response. A form of deep pressure known as circumferential pressure is applied by encircling a limb's whole circumference and applying a steady pressure to it. Objective: To determine whether circumferential pressure, measured using a sphygmomanometer, is beneficial in reducing spasticity and enhancing gait patterns in post-stroke patients. Methods: The 20 Participants were randomly assigned to either Group A or Group B using a simple randomization method. Each group comprised 10 members. Group A underwent circumferential pressure using sphygmomanometer with the pressure of 30- 50mmhg for 30 minutes with intermittent break after every 10 minutes. The control group received 30 minutes of conventional physiotherapy for a period of 8 weeks. The Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] and Dynamic Gait Index [DGI] served as assessment tools for outcomes. Evaluations were conducted both before and after the intervention to measure pre-test and post-test results. Results: After the treatment of 8 weeks, the Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] scores and Dynamic Gait Index [DGI] are evaluated. The outcomes for both groups exhibited a notable decrease with statistical significance (P<0.001). Group A exhibited a significantly greater rate of effectiveness when compared to Group B. Conclusion: According to the research’s findings, circumferential pressure applied with a sphygmomanometer can effectively lessen spasticity and improve gait pattern.