Advisory Committee Chair
C Scott Bickel
Advisory Committee Members
Jennifer Braswell Christy
Matthew Ford
Keith Tansey
Patricia Winchester
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2012
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DScPT) School of Health Professions
Abstract
This study investigated a novel robotic assessment of spasticity resulting from a spinal cord injury (SCI). Torque data was analyzed to provide a single measure spasticity score. Three participants with motor incomplete SCI and resultant spasticity were compared to three non-injured participants (NI) using three different angular velocities of passive lower extremity movement in the Lokomat gait orthosis. The mean spasticity scores (NI vs. SCI) at120°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s were: 0.41 ± 0.30 vs. 3.70 ± 2.07; 0.65 ± 0.49 vs. 4.33 ± 3.57; and 1.55 ± 1.16 vs. 5.26 ± 3.99, respectively. Mean surface electrode electromyography measures (NI vs. SCI) during the passive movement at each velocity were the following: 0.73 ± 0.11 mv/s vs. 5.13 ± 3.12 mv/s; 0.69 ± 0.10 mv/s vs. 4.01 ± 3.18 mv/s; and 0.75 ± 0.13 mv/s vs. 5.08 ± 2.90 mv/s, respectively. A general trend was found of increasing spasticity score with increasing joint angular velocity. These preliminary results show that the torque-derived spasticity score used here may offer an objective, quantitative method for characterizing and tracking spasticity.
Recommended Citation
Van Hiel, Leslie R., "Examining Spasticity after Spinal Cord Injury Using a Novel Robotic Assessment" (2012). All ETDs from UAB. 3207.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/3207