For patients with spasticity after the stroke

  Spasticity is characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in muscle tone with exaggerated tendon reflexes. The main mechanisms has been considered as increase of motoneuron excitability. Spasticity is a disabling complication caused by spinal cord and/or brain injuries. Actually, 42.6% of acute patients, 6 months after stroke, have showed spasticity on either limb at least. The spasticity has interfered rehabilitation for the patients. However, the exact mechanisms of spasticity after the stroke are still unclear. Moreover, there are few medications commonly useful without serious side effects. No animal model of spasticity for brain injury is one of the reasons for the preventing clinical investigation.

  To obtain mechanistic insights of the spasticity by cortical injuries, we investigate to make a new animal spastic model by a cortical injury.