Characterization of spasticity in cerebral palsy: dependence of catch angle on velocity

Abstract

MAS) and 10 typically developing participants (four males, six females; mean age 10y 3mo, SD 2y 7mo, range 7-15y). Spasticity and catch angle were evaluated using joint position, resistance torque, and torque rate at velocities of 90°, 180°, and 270°per second, controlled using real-time audio-visual feedback. Biomechanically, elbow range of motion (ROM), stiffness, and energy loss were determined during slow movement (30°⁄ s) and under controlled terminal torque.RESULTS Compared with typically developing children, children with CP showed higher reflexmediated torque (p<0.001) and the torque increased more rapidly with increasing velocity (p<0.001). Catch angle was dependent on velocity and occurred later with increasing velocity (p=0.005). Children with CP showed smaller ROM (p<0.05), greater stiffness (p<0.001), and more energy loss (p=0.003).

Quantitative evaluations of ankle spasticity and stiffness in neurological disorders using manual spasticity evaluator

“…We also found that the catch angle was linearly dependent on the movement velocity and thus should be determined at a well controlled velocity for consistent results. The linear relation between movement velocity and catch angle was also found in a related study on the upper limb [22]. …”

Adaptive myoelectric pattern recognition toward improved multifunctional prosthesis control

“…The use of online adaptive classification algorithms for myoelectric pattern recognition is more important for studies involving routine clinical EMG recorded from paretic-spastic muscles. In particular, in studies involving clinical populations (e.g., stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy) that may have spontaneous motor activity due to spasticity [32][33][34], paretic muscles may present a large amount of long-duration involuntary motor activity, and the involuntary motor activity can lead to relatively high tonic baseline activity [33]. Thus the quality of EMG signals may be degraded by interfering the tonic baseline activity during the recording process in routine clinical environments.…”

The relationship between clinical measurements and gait analysis data in children with cerebral palsy

“…The most popular methods of clinical muscle tone assessment are subjective scales, including the Ashworth Scale (AS), the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Tardieu Scale (TS), and the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) [2,8]. In children with spastic CP, there is a strong correlation between the range of motion (ROM), the velocity of movement, and the position in which the tested muscle reacts to stretching [2,[9][10][11][12][13].…”

“…In this test, two joint angles are measured: DROM I, defined as the PROM deficit following a slow velocity stretch, and DROM II, defined as the angle of catch (AOC) after a fast velocity stretch. The difference between DROM II and DROM I indicates the examined muscle group's level of contracture and is called the angle of spasticity (ASO) [2,[10][11][12][13]. The DAROM, again like the MTS, specifies three velocities that can be applied to the Spasticity is a common impairment that interferes with motor function (particularly gait pattern) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).…”

“…Currently, one of the most commonly used methods for assessing motor deficits in children with CP is objective, instrumented gait analysis. An algorithm called bridge therapy is often used: in this algorithm, spasticity and contracture are managed simultaneously using orthotic devices [3][4][5][6][7][13][14][15][16]. However, while most gait analysis reports are based on selected gait parameters [3][4][5][6][7], many gait parameters are interdependent.…”