A quantitative and convenient method of evaluating tendon reflex and spasticity

Author

Zhang, Li-Qun ; Xu, Dali ; Liao, Wangcai ; Rymer, W. Zev

Author_Institution

Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Inst. of Chicago, IL, USA

Volume

1

fYear

1999

fDate

1999

Abstract

Tendon reflexes were evaluated for both normal subjects and spastic patients using a quantitative and portable setup. A force sensor was strapped onto the patellar (or Achilles) tendon to measure both the tendon tapping force and bounce-back force, and they were treated as the input and output of the tendon reflex system, respectively, and system approach was used to quantify the input and output simultaneously. The results show that the bounce-back force provides a measure similar to the joint reflex torque, and patients with spasticity showed stronger bounce-back force. Due to the simplicity and portability of the approach, it can potentially be used conveniently in clinical practice to evaluate tendon reflexes and spasticity quantitatively

Keywords

biomechanics; biomedical equipment; biomedical measurement; force measurement; force sensors; mechanoception; muscle; torque measurement; bounce-back force; force sensor; input-output relationship; joint reflex torque; muscle stretch; patellar tendon; portable setup; quantitative method; spastic muscle hypertonus; spasticity evaluation; system approach; tendon reflex evaluation; tendon tapping force; Back; Biomedical engineering; Biomedical measurements; Force measurement; Force sensors; Knee; Muscles; Surgery; Tendons; Torque measurement;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

[Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 1999. 21st Annual Conference and the 1999 Annual Fall Meetring of the Biomedical Engineering Society] BMES/EMBS Conference, 1999. Proceedings of the First Joint

Conference_Location

Atlanta, GA

ISSN

1094-687X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5674-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.1999.802627

Filename

802627