Spasticity, an impairment that is poorly defined and poorly measured

Authors: Malhotra, S., Pandyan, A.D., Day, C.R., Jones, P.W. and Hermens, H.

Journal: Clinical Rehabilitation

Volume: 23

Issue: 7

Pages: 651-658

ISSN: 0269-2155

DOI: 10.1177/0269215508101747

Abstract:

Objective: To explore, following a literature review, whether there is a consistent definition and a unified assessment framework for the term 'spasticity'. The congruence between the definitions of spasticity and the corresponding methods of measurement were also explored. Data sources: The search was performed on the electronic databases Web of Science, Science Direct and MEDLINE. Review methods: A systematic literature search of publications written in English between the years 1980 and 2006 was performed with the following keywords: spasticity and tone. The search was limited to the following keywords: stroke, hemiplegia, upper, hand and arm. Results: Two hundred and fifty references contributed to this review (190 clinical trials, 46 literature reviews, and 14 case reports). Seventy-eight used the Lance definition; 88 equated spasticity with increased muscle tone; 78 provided no definition; and six others used their own definitions for spasticity. Most papers used a single measure and some used more than one. Forty-seven papers used neurophysiological methods of testing, 228 used biomechanical methods of measurement or assessment, 25 used miscellaneous clinical measures (e.g. spasm frequency scales) and 19 did not explicitly describe a measure. Conclusion: The term spasticity is inconsistently defined and this inconsistency will need to be resolved. Often, the measures used did not correspond to the clinical features of spasticity that were defined within a paper (i.e. internal validity was compromised). There is need to ensure that this lack of congruence is addressed in future research. © SAGE Publications 2009.

Source: Scopus

Spasticity, an impairment that is poorly defined and poorly measured.

Authors: Malhotra, S., Pandyan, A.D., Day, C.R., Jones, P.W. and Hermens, H.

Journal: Clin Rehabil

Volume: 23

Issue: 7

Pages: 651-658

eISSN: 1477-0873

DOI: 10.1177/0269215508101747

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore, following a literature review, whether there is a consistent definition and a unified assessment framework for the term 'spasticity'. The congruence between the definitions of spasticity and the corresponding methods of measurement were also explored. DATA SOURCES: The search was performed on the electronic databases Web of Science, Science Direct and MEDLINE. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic literature search of publications written in English between the years 1980 and 2006 was performed with the following keywords: spasticity and tone. The search was limited to the following keywords: stroke, hemiplegia, upper, hand and arm. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty references contributed to this review (190 clinical trials, 46 literature reviews, and 14 case reports). Seventy-eight used the Lance definition; 88 equated spasticity with increased muscle tone; 78 provided no definition; and six others used their own definitions for spasticity. Most papers used a single measure and some used more than one. Forty-seven papers used neurophysiological methods of testing, 228 used biomechanical methods of measurement or assessment, 25 used miscellaneous clinical measures (e.g. spasm frequency scales) and 19 did not explicitly describe a measure. CONCLUSION: The term spasticity is inconsistently defined and this inconsistency will need to be resolved. Often, the measures used did not correspond to the clinical features of spasticity that were defined within a paper (i.e. internal validity was compromised). There is need to ensure that this lack of congruence is addressed in future research.

Source: PubMed

Spasticity, an impairment that is poorly defined and poorly measured

Authors: Malhotra, S., Pandyan, A.D., Day, C.R., Jones, P.W. and Hermens, H.

Journal: CLINICAL REHABILITATION

Volume: 23

Issue: 7

Pages: 651-658

ISSN: 0269-2155

DOI: 10.1177/0269215508101747

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Spasticity, an impairment that is poorly defined and poorly measured.

Authors: Malhotra, S., Pandyan, A.D., Day, C.R., Jones, P.W. and Hermens, H.

Journal: Clinical rehabilitation

Volume: 23

Issue: 7

Pages: 651-658

eISSN: 1477-0873

ISSN: 0269-2155

DOI: 10.1177/0269215508101747

Abstract:

Objective

To explore, following a literature review, whether there is a consistent definition and a unified assessment framework for the term 'spasticity'. The congruence between the definitions of spasticity and the corresponding methods of measurement were also explored.

Data sources

The search was performed on the electronic databases Web of Science, Science Direct and MEDLINE.

Review methods

A systematic literature search of publications written in English between the years 1980 and 2006 was performed with the following keywords: spasticity and tone. The search was limited to the following keywords: stroke, hemiplegia, upper, hand and arm.

Results

Two hundred and fifty references contributed to this review (190 clinical trials, 46 literature reviews, and 14 case reports). Seventy-eight used the Lance definition; 88 equated spasticity with increased muscle tone; 78 provided no definition; and six others used their own definitions for spasticity. Most papers used a single measure and some used more than one. Forty-seven papers used neurophysiological methods of testing, 228 used biomechanical methods of measurement or assessment, 25 used miscellaneous clinical measures (e.g. spasm frequency scales) and 19 did not explicitly describe a measure.

Conclusion

The term spasticity is inconsistently defined and this inconsistency will need to be resolved. Often, the measures used did not correspond to the clinical features of spasticity that were defined within a paper (i.e. internal validity was compromised). There is need to ensure that this lack of congruence is addressed in future research.

Source: Europe PubMed Central