AIM: To investigate the curative effect of tonic neck reflexes stimulation combined with other rehabilitation therapy on the spasticity of limbs in stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia. METHODS: Totally 100 stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia for the first time (the disease course was 1 to 6 months), who were treated in the Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College from October 1999 to October 2001, were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 50) and control group (n = 50). All the patients received Brunnstrun rehabilitative treatment, besides tonic neck reflexes stimulation training was given to those in the treatment group. Before treatment and 30 days after treatment, the curative effects were observed with the evaluation of Brunnstrun classification (the 6-degree scoring was used, the higher the degree, the better the amelioration of their abnormal exercise mode and muscular spasm status). RESULTS: According to intention-to-treat analysis, all the 100 patients finished the treatment, no one lost. The scores of Brunnstrun before treatment: In the treatment group, grade I or II was in 8 cases (16%, 8/50) and grade III in 42 cases (84%, 42/50); In the control group, grade I or II was in 6 cases (12%) and grade III in 44 cases (88%). After treatment, 7 cases (88%, 7/8) with grade I or II and 36 patients (86%, 36/42) with grade III recovered to grade IV in treatment group; In the control group, 2 patients (33%, 2/6) with grade I or II and 15 patients (44%, 15/44) with grade III recovered to grade IV. CONCLUSION: The tonic neck reflexes stimulation combined with other rehabilitation therapy can effectively relieve the spasticity of hemiplegic limb and accelerate the recovery of motor function in stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia within 1 to 6 months of onset.

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