Document Detail


Quantitative measures of spasticity in post-stroke patients.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10825708     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Quantitative evaluation of muscle tone in post-stroke patients; correlation of biomechanical indices with conventional clinical scales and neurophysiological measures; characterization of passive and neural components of muscle tone. METHODS: Mechanical stretches of the wrist flexor muscles of 53 post-stroke patients were imposed by means of a torque motor at constant speed. Patients were clinically studied using the Ashworth scale for spasticity and the Medical Research Council score for residual muscle strength. The neurophysiological measures were Hoffmann reflex latency, Hmax/Mmax ratio, stretch reflex threshold speed (SRTS), stretch reflex (SR) latency and area, passive (ISI) and total (TSI) stiffness indices. RESULTS: Hmax/Mmax ratio, SR area, ISI and TSI values were significantly higher in patients, while SRTS was significantly lower. TSI, SRTS and SR area were highly correlated to the Ashworth score. CONCLUSIONS: This EMG-biomechanical technique allows an objective evaluation of changes in muscle tone in post-stroke patients, providing easily measurable, quantitative indices of muscle stiffness. The linear distribution of these measures is particularly indicated for monitoring changes induced by treatment. The apparatus seems suitable to characterize neural stiffness, while difficulties were found in isolating the passive components, because of the occurrence of tonic EMG activity in most spastic patients.
Authors:
F Pisano; G Miscio; C Del Conte; D Pianca; E Candeloro; R Colombo
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology     Volume:  111     ISSN:  1388-2457     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin Neurophysiol     Publication Date:  2000 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-07-14     Completed Date:  2000-07-14     Revised Date:  2008-09-10    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883319     Medline TA:  Clin Neurophysiol     Country:  NETHERLANDS    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1015-22     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Unit of Neurophysiology, 'Salvatore Maugeri' Foundation, IRCCS, Rehabilitation Institute 28010 (NO), Veruno, Italy. neufis.veruno@fsm.it
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Biomechanics
Electromyography / instrumentation,  methods
Electrophysiology / instrumentation,  methods
Female
H-Reflex / physiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Contraction
Muscle Spasticity / etiology,  physiopathology*
Muscle Tonus / physiology*
Muscle, Skeletal / innervation*
Reaction Time
Stroke / physiopathology*
Torque
Wrist Joint / innervation

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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