An instrument for the bedside quantification of spasticity: a pilot study

Author

Hughes, T.A.T. ; Westem, B.J. ; Thomas, M. ; van Deursen, R.W.M. ; Griffiths, H.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Medicine (Neurology), Univ. Hosp. of Wales, Cardiff, UK

Volume

2

fYear

2001

fDate

2001

Firstpage

1228

Abstract

Spasticity is a velocity-dependent phenomenon; the quicker the limb is moved the more resistance is encountered. A compact, portable instrument was constructed for recording the angle at the knee, the rate of change of angle (angular velocity) and the force encountered at the ankle when the limb was flexed. A pilot study was performed on 5 normal volunteers and 5 patients with spasticity. A preliminary index of spasticity was extracted from the measurements, being 0.163±0.059 N.s/deg (mean±SD) for the patients and 0.052±0.030 N.s/deg for the normal group.

Keywords

angular measurement; angular velocity measurement; biomechanics; biomedical equipment; force measurement; angle change rate; ankle force; bedside quantification; limb flexing; medical instrument; muscle tone; normal volunteers; patients; spasticity index; Angular velocity; Force measurement; Goniometers; Hospitals; Immune system; Instruments; Knee; Medical diagnostic imaging; Position measurement; Transducers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2001. Proceedings of the 23rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE

ISSN

1094-687X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7211-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.2001.1020415

Filename

1020415