[Purpose] The aim of this study was to quantify the resistance to passive movement by
measuring changes in muscle-tendon length and joint range of motion (ROM), before and
after applying a standardized 5-kilogram tension force, and to correlate and compare these
changes to muscle tone. [Subjects and Methods] Children with cerebral palsy (n=29) and
typically developed children (n=12) participated in this observational study. The modified
Ashworth scale (MAS) was used to assess tone in the right plantarflexor muscle. An
ultrasound-imaging device was used to measure Δmuscle-tendon length in the right medial
gastrocnemius muscle, and a goniometer was used to measure right ankle ΔROM. [Results]
Compared with the MAS, the results showed that ΔROM had the highest construct validity
(convergent and discriminant) followed by Δmuscle-tendon unit length. Therefore, these
parameters may be better alternatives to the MAS for the quantitative assessment of
resistance to passive movement in patients with increased tone. [Conclusion] This study
demonstrated that measuring the change in the passive properties of the muscle-tendon
unit, as well as the corresponding change in ROM, might provide better options for
assessing resistance to passive movement or muscle tone.
[Purpose] To investigate the effect of night splints on the standing motor function and
ankle dorsiflexion angles of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). [Subjects
and Methods] Nine boys (age <11 years) with DMD were divided into the
sufficiently-wearing group and the insufficiently-wearing group, according to how often
they wore their splint for one year. We evaluated the changes between the
pre-implementation and the one-year-after assessments of both the sufficiently-wearing
group and the insufficiently-wearing group for the ankle dorsiflexion angle, North Star
Ambulatory Assessment, 10-m running time, and time to stand from the floor. [Results] Only
the left dorsiflexion angle of the ankle showed significantly difference for the
sufficiently-wearing group. For other indicators, there were tendency toward improvement
and maintenance in the sufficiently-wearing group. [Conclusion] The standing motor
function improved significantly in some patients in the sufficiently-wearing group,
suggesting that wearing night splints may promote the improvement and/or maintain of
standing motor function in patients with DMD.
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