TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the Catch in Spasticity Assessment in Children With Cerebral Palsy
AU - van den Noort, Josien C.
AU - Scholtes, Vanessa A.
AU - Becher, Jules G.
AU - Harlaar, Jaap
N1 - Funding Information: This work is part of the FreeMotion project ( www.freemotion.tk ) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Senter Novem .
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - van den Noort JC, Scholtes VA, Becher JG, Harlaar J. Evaluation of the catch in spasticity assessment in children with cerebral palsy. Objective: To evaluate whether the catch in clinical spasticity assessment in cerebral palsy (CP) is the consequence of a sudden velocity-dependent increase in muscle activity, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex in spasticity. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A special school for children with physical disabilities. Participants: Children with CP (N=20; age range, 5-14y; mean weight ± SD, 35±14kg; mean length ± SD, 139±19cm). Interventions: Spasticity assessment tests (using slow and fast passive stretch) were performed in the medial hamstrings, soleus, and medial gastrocnemius muscles of the children by 2 experienced examiners. Main Outcome Measures: Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded and joint motion was simultaneously measured using 2 inertial sensors. The encounter of a catch by the examiner was compared with the presence of a sudden increase in muscle activity ("burst"). The average rectified value (ARV) of the EMG signal was calculated for each test. Results: The study shows a sudden increase in muscle activity in fast passive stretch, followed by a catch (hamstrings 100%, soleus 95%, gastrocnemius 84%). The ARV in slow passive stretch was significantly lower. Conclusions: The results confirm that in children with CP, an increase in muscle activity is primarily responsible for a catch in fast passive muscle stretch.
AB - van den Noort JC, Scholtes VA, Becher JG, Harlaar J. Evaluation of the catch in spasticity assessment in children with cerebral palsy. Objective: To evaluate whether the catch in clinical spasticity assessment in cerebral palsy (CP) is the consequence of a sudden velocity-dependent increase in muscle activity, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex in spasticity. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A special school for children with physical disabilities. Participants: Children with CP (N=20; age range, 5-14y; mean weight ± SD, 35±14kg; mean length ± SD, 139±19cm). Interventions: Spasticity assessment tests (using slow and fast passive stretch) were performed in the medial hamstrings, soleus, and medial gastrocnemius muscles of the children by 2 experienced examiners. Main Outcome Measures: Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded and joint motion was simultaneously measured using 2 inertial sensors. The encounter of a catch by the examiner was compared with the presence of a sudden increase in muscle activity ("burst"). The average rectified value (ARV) of the EMG signal was calculated for each test. Results: The study shows a sudden increase in muscle activity in fast passive stretch, followed by a catch (hamstrings 100%, soleus 95%, gastrocnemius 84%). The ARV in slow passive stretch was significantly lower. Conclusions: The results confirm that in children with CP, an increase in muscle activity is primarily responsible for a catch in fast passive muscle stretch.
KW - Biomedical engineering
KW - Cerebral palsy
KW - Electromyography
KW - Muscle spasticity
KW - Physical examination
KW - Rehabilitation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950467843&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2009.12.022
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2009.12.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 20382296
SN - 0003-9993
VL - 91
SP - 615
EP - 623
JO - Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
JF - Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
IS - 4
ER -