Abstract
Abstract Spasticity is a common pathological phenomenon in clinical practices, frequently expressed as a stroke, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. The accurate quantification of spasticity allows early action to prevent the potentially irreversible consequences. The aim of this work is to develop and implement a mechatronic device for the accurate quantification of spasticity, which is able to differentiate spasticity from other motor disorders. The proposed method is based on the quantification of the tonic stretch reflex threshold (TSRT) for the assessment of the range of motion of the limb affected by spasticity. In order to validate the developed device, experimental trials have been conducted, considering the flexor muscle of the elbow joint. The developed device was tested, first in a laboratory environment with healthy subjects and secondly, in a clinical environment with the collaboration of patients with spasticity. The evaluations in th clinical environment were performed on three different days in order to evaluate the reproducibility of the obtained results. The experimental trials confirm the sensibility, reproducibility and reliability of spasticity quantification based on the TSRT method. This project has been developed in cooperation with the Hospital of Braga and Fisimaia rehabilitation clinic, both in Portugal.
Highlights
Spasticity is a disabling motor disorder integrated in the Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) resulting from neurological diseases
This methodology operates based on the physiological process that characterizes spasticity, according to the definition proposed by Lance, avoiding the influence of other motor disorders
The obtained results, presented, validate the estimation of tonic stretch reflex threshold (TSRT) based on the velocity dependence of the stretch reflex threshold (SRT)
Summary
Spasticity is a disabling motor disorder integrated in the Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) resulting from neurological diseases. The definition proposed by Lance [8] persists today as one of the most frequently cited and consensually accepted by the scientific community [6] According to this definition, “spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity‐dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tonus) with exaggerated tendon jerk, resulting in hyper excitability of the stretch reflexes, as one of the components of the upper motor neuron syndrome” [9]. “spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity‐dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tonus) with exaggerated tendon jerk, resulting in hyper excitability of the stretch reflexes, as one of the components of the upper motor neuron syndrome” [9] It is a motor disorder and potentially disabling motor function that is already commonly characterised by paresis and decreased muscle strength [3, 6]. The clinical manifestation of spasticity seriously affects the quality of life, social participation and professional performance of patients [1, 3 , 9]
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