Velocity-Dependent Analysis During Spasticity Assessment

Abstract

Objective: To quantify range of velocity dependent and range of time during slow and fast stretch of upper limb spasticity assessment using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Methods: This study involved 53 patients with upper limb spasticity from MAS 0,1,1+ and 2 and with two raters. The wireless electro goniometer sensor is used to measure angle attached onto the patient’s arm. From the measured of angle value, value of velocity and acceleration were calculated. The assessment is done by manually, where the examiner does three slow stretches and three fast stretches consecutively upon the patient’s forearm. The differences in time and velocity between slow and fast stretch is evaluated and compared inter-rater to prove the hypothesis. Results: There is significant different inter-rater, average maximum velocities during slow and fast stretch were $61.4181 \pm 23.5910^{\circ}/\mathrm{s}$ and $336.1577\pm 72.4637\circ/\mathrm{s}$, respectively (mean ± SD). For the MAS level situation, there is no significant different on velocity value. In addition, range of time during slow stretch is 0.5s to 5.3s and for the fast stretch is 0.1s to 0.7s. Conclusions: The velocity value of the slow and fast stretch had a significant effect on the inter-rater but the pattern of acceleration value is highly dependent on the velocity. Different situation with MAS level, the velocity of slow and fast stretch had no significant effect.