The leg drop pendulum test under anesthesia. I. Normal limbs, awake vs. asleep

Data from leg drop pendulum tests of eight limbs is presented. The limbs tested in this study were all from subjects without disability or from the unaffected side of those with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Data was collected both while the subjects were under general anesthesia after being given muscle relaxants and while awake. All data was fitted with a second order linear equation and optimized for values of stiffness (K) and damping (B). One-way ANOVA statistical comparisons were made between the two groups for each parameter including a Range of Motion (ROM) measurement. There were no significant differences found at the p<0.05 level. Trends in the data did show a somewhat consistent increase in stiffness and ROM, and a VERY consistent decrease in damping coefficient (7 of the 8). These changes occurred even in the absence of any noticeable EMG activity in the awake subjects.