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Biomechanical investigation of the modified Tardieu Scale in assessing knee extensor spasticity poststroke
Author(s) -
Gholami Samaneh,
Ansari Noureddin Nakhostin,
Naghdi Soofia,
Tabatabaei Azadeh,
Jannat Davood,
Senobari Maryam,
Dadgoo Mahdi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physiotherapy research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.509
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1471-2865
pISSN - 1358-2267
DOI - 10.1002/pri.1698
Subject(s) - spasticity , physical medicine and rehabilitation , knee flexion , stroke (engine) , work (physics) , medicine , physical therapy , modified ashworth scale , dynamometer , physics , engineering , thermodynamics , aerospace engineering
Objective The modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) is a clinical tool for the measurement of muscle spasticity. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the MTS and the slope of the work‐velocity curve as a biomechanical measure in assessing knee extensor muscle spasticity in patients with stroke. Methods Thirty patients with stroke (22 female, 8 male; mean age 55.4 ± 12.0 years) participated in this study. The knee extensor spasticity was assessed with the MTS. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to move the knee passively from full extension to 90° flexion at speeds of 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s to collect torque‐angle data. The slope of the work‐velocity curve was calculated using linear regression [J/(°/s)]. Results The mean of R2‐R1 component of MTS was 19.73 (SD 29.85). The mean work significantly decreased as the speed increased ( p < .001). The mean (SD) slope for the work‐velocity curve was −0.83 (SD 0.73, range −2.6–0.3). There was no significant relationship between the R 2 ‐R 1 and the slope of work‐velocity curve ( r = 0.09, p = .62). Conclusions The lack of significant relationship between the MTS and the slope of work‐velocity curve may question the usefulness of the MTS as a valid measure of muscle spasticity after stroke.