ashworth and modified ashworth scales are the most widely used tests to assess the severity of muscle spasticity. these clinical scales offer qualitative and subjective information and consequently there are issues concerning reliability when two or more clinicians are involved in assessment of spasticity. this article presents the result of a study assessing inter-rater reliability of the orig...

Past studies have suggested that acupuncture may reduce spasticity in stroke survivors. We do not know, however, whether acupuncture may enhance the effect of strength training on motor function. This study compared upper-limb motor functional improvement in chronic stroke survivors who received a combination of acupuncture and strength training with that of subjects who received strength train...

OBJECTIVE Spasticity with increased tone and spasms is frequent in patients after spinal cord injury (SCI). Damage to descending corticospinal pathways that normally exert spinal segmental control is thought to play an important causal role in spasticity. The authors examined whether the modulation of excitability of the primary motor cortex with high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic ...

The current practice in Germany and Austria, and the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A; Dysport) in the treatment of patients with post-stroke arm spasticity (with no fixed upper-limb contractures), were assessed in this observational prospective non-interventional study. One treatment cycle was documented with assessments at baseline, approximately week 4 (optional), and ap...

S is a common symptom seen in many neurological conditions (stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and other central nervous system lesions). It has been defined as a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in the tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tone) with exaggerated tendon jerks.1 This definition has greatly influenced the evaluation and tr...

Spasticity and contracture are major sources of disability in people with neurological impairments that have been evaluated using various instruments: the Modified Ashworth Scale, tendon reflex scale, pendulum test, mechanical perturbations, and passive joint range of motion (ROM). These measures generally are either convenient to use in clinics but not quantitative or they are quantitative but...

OBJECTIVE To develop a modification of the pendulum test to allow evaluation of elbow spasticity. DESIGN The main difficulties of directly applying the conventional pendulum test to the elbow were the small inertia of the forearm and the uncomfortable posture. We designed an experimental apparatus similar to a clock pendulum and developed an elbow biomechanic model to measure objectively spas...

BACKGROUND Botulinum toxin type A (btxA) is one of the main treatment choices for patients with spasticity. Prosigne® a new released botulinum toxin serotype A may have the same effectiveness as Botox® in focal dystonia. However, there are no randomized clinical trials comparing these formulations in spasticity treatment. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of Prosigne® ...