The pendulum test for evaluating spasticity of the elbow joint

Quantifying repeatability of the Wartenberg pendulum test parameters in children with spasticity

“…In most studies describing the use of the Wartenberg test the tests were performed consecutively (Fowler et al, 1998;Jamshidi and Smith, 1998;Le Cavorzin et al, 2001Lin et al, 2003;White et al, 2007) and either one of the tests was taken for further analysis (usually the last one, as the first ones were treated as pre-trial to familiarize the patient with the procedure) or the data were averaged. In some cases (Fowler et al, 2000) the tests were repeated several times until the assumed number of success- ful trials were recorded, although no criteria for successful trial was given.…”

“…Bajd and Vodovnik, 1984). Current research has shown that the modified Ashworth score itself may not be a valid measure of spasticity (Lin et al, 2003) therefore these studies provide us with very little useful information. There is some evidence that the Wartenberg test may be able differentiate healthy people from patients with spasticity (e.g.…”

“…If the latter were true then there is a need for caution when using the relaxation indices as an outcome measure, especially if the objective is to study repeatability and reproducibility. The inferences from studies which have used the mean of many repeated measures (Fowler et al, 1998;Jamshidi and Smith, 1998;Le Cavorzin et al, 2001 and uncontrolled pretrial preparations (Lin et al, 2003;White et al, 2007) could have been confounded by the serially dependent measurement.…”

Applications of Robotics to Assessment and Physical Therapy of Upper Limbs of Stroke Patients

“…The results from the patients with diabetic neuropathy (n=53) indicated that the pendulum test could be used in this patient group to monitor the decreased muscle tone. Details of this development can be found in (Lin et al, 2003(Lin et al, , 2006. …”

Wartenberg's pendulum, repose and the ‘gripped’ patella—part 1: quadriceps normotonia

“…Johnson (2002) Outcome measures of spasticity. Lin et al (2003) The pendulum test for evaluating spasticity of the elbow joint.…”