Managing Paratonia in Persons With Dementia: Short-term Effects of Supporting Cushions and Harmonic Techniques

Bieke Van Deun; Nele Van Den Noortgate; Anke Van Bladel; Koen De Weerdt; Dirk Cambier

doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2019.04.031

Managing Paratonia in Persons With Dementia: Short-term Effects of Supporting Cushions and Harmonic Techniques

J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2019 Dec;20(12):1521-1528. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.04.031. Epub 2019 Jun 18.

Authors

Bieke Van Deun¹, Nele Van Den Noortgate², Anke Van Bladel³, Koen De Weerdt³, Dirk Cambier³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: bieke.vandeun@ugent.be.
² Department of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

PMID: 31227470
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.04.031

Abstract

Objectives: Paratonia, a form of hypertonia typically seen in dementia, is often associated with difficulties in positioning and daily care. No evidence-based therapy or clinical guideline for management is available. In this study, the short-term effect of harmonic techniques (HT) and supporting cushions (SC) on paratonia was explored.

Design: This was a multicenter interventional clinical trial with AB/BA crossover design. Each intervention (SC or HT) was subsequently implemented over 1 week in each of the participants.

Setting and participants: The study included 22 participants with moderate to severe paratonia from 9 different nursing homes in Flanders, Belgium.

Methods: Measurements of biceps brachii and rectus femoris muscle tone (MyotonPRO), maximal elbow and knee extension (goniometer), and pain (Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors With Limited Ability to Communicate) were performed on 3 different days within 1 week. The effect of HT on nursing care was evaluated with the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors With Limited Ability to Communicate and visual analog scale ratings of discomfort items.

Results: After 30 minutes of positioning with SC, participants had lower biceps brachii muscle tone (P = .041) and higher maximal elbow extension (P = .006) than without SC. After a 30-minute session of HT, a significant increase in biceps brachii muscle tone (P = .032) and maximal extension of elbow (P < .001) and knee (P = .028) was found. Pain (P = .003) and discomfort (P = .001 to P = .019) during morning care were significantly lower when care was preceded by 30 minutes of HT.

Conclusions/implications: This explorative study revealed beneficial short-term effects on range of motion for both SC and HT and a positive effect of SC on upper limb muscle tone. Beneficial effects of HT were found on resident's pain and caregiver's discomfort during care. The results of the present study are encouraging and can contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions for paratonia.

Keywords: Dementia; harmonic techniques; intervention; paratonia; supporting cushions.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bedding and Linens*
Cross-Over Studies
Dementia / physiopathology*
Female
Humans
Male
Muscle Hypertonia / physiopathology
Muscle Hypertonia / therapy*
Muscle Tonus / physiology
Musculoskeletal Manipulations / methods*
Nursing Homes
Pain Measurement
Patient Positioning*
Range of Motion, Articular / physiology