The effects of using an electrodress (Mollii®) to reduce spasticity and enhance functioning in children with cerebral palsy: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose

Spasticity negatively affects the muscles and joints of the extremities and can be harmful to growing children. Children born with cerebral palsy do not have extremity deformities at birth but develop them over time. The goal is to reduce spasticity to avoid deformities. In this pilot study, we tested a non-pharmaceutical non-invasive method using an electrodress for six months.

Material and methods

We included 16 children with cerebral palsy and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS I-V) age 2–16 y, median age 6.3 y. The intervention lasted 60 min every other day with reciprocal inhibition of the spastic muscle.

Results

Passive range of motion (pROM) improved during treatment with a significant number of improved muscles after one (p = 0.000), three (p = 0.001) and six (p = 0.014) months. The spasticity level measured using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) significantly decreased at one (p = 0.007) and six months (p = 0.011) and was almost significant after three months (p = 0.076). The modified Tardieu significantly decreased after one month (p = 0.030), but not after three (p = 0.392) or six months (p = 0.426).

Conclusion

The electrodress has effects on spasticity levels and pROM. Further studies are needed to optimise the frequency and intensity of the current with respect to the effects on the level of spasticity.

Keywords:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Children
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Modified Ashworth
• Modified Tardieu
• Passive Range of Motion
• Spasticity

Acknowledgements

We thank all children and their caregivers for participating in this study and thanks to all physiotherapists who performed the measurements.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for the study. The company provided the dresses during the study period and the technicians that controlled the control units during the study to ensure that they worked properly.