http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/10/1/61/abstract
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Spasticity is a prevalent chronic condition among persons with upper motor neuron
syndrome that significantly impacts function and can be costly to treat. Clinical
assessment is most often performed with passive stretch-reflex tests and graded on
a scale, such as the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). However, these scales are limited
in sensitivity and are highly subjective. This paper shows that a simple wearable
sensor system (angle sensor and 2-channel EMG) worn during a stretch-reflex assessment
can be used to more objectively quantify spasticity in a clinical setting.
Methods
A wearable sensor system consisting of a fibre-optic goniometer and 2-channel electromyography
(EMG) was used to capture data during administration of the passive stretch-reflex
test for elbow flexors and extensors spasticity. A kinematic model of unrestricted
passive joint motion was used to extract metrics from the kinematic and EMG data to
represent the intensity of the involuntary reflex. Relationships between the biometric
results and clinical measures (MAS, isometric muscle strength and passive range of
motion) were explored.
Results
Preliminary results based on nine patients with varying degrees of flexor and extensor
spasticity showed that kinematic and EMG derived metrics were strongly correlated
with one another, were correlated positively (and significantly) with clinical MAS,
and negatively correlated (though mostly non-significant) with isometric muscle strength.
Conclusions
We conclude that a wearable sensor system used in conjunction with a simple kinematic
model can capture clinically relevant features of elbow spasticity during stretch-reflex
testing in a clinical environment.
No comments:
Post a Comment