Improving the objectivity of the current World Para Swimming motor coordination test for swimmers with hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis using measures of movement smoothness, rhythm and accuracy.

The current protocol for classifying Para swimmers with hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis involves a physical assessment where the individual's ability to coordinate their limbs is scored by subjective clinical judgment. The lack of objective measurement renders the current test unsuitable for evidence-based classification. This study evaluated a revised version of the Para swimming assessment for motor coordination, incorporating practical, objective measures of movement smoothness, rhythm error and accuracy. Nineteen Para athletes with hypertonia and 19 non-disabled participants performed 30 s trials of bilateral alternating shoulder flexion-extension at 30 bpm and 120 bpm. Accelerometry was used to quantify movement smoothness; rhythm error and accuracy were obtained from video. Para athletes presented significantly less smooth movement and higher rhythm error than the non-disabled participants (p < 0.05). Random forest algorithm successfully classified 89% of participants with hypertonia during out-of-bag predictions. The most important predictors in classifying participants were movement smoothness at both movement speeds, and rhythm error at 120 bpm. Our results suggest objective measures of movement smoothness and rhythm error included in the current motor coordination test protocols can be used to infer impairment in Para swimmers with hypertonia. Further research is merited to establish the relationship of these measures with swimming performance.

Cluster analysis of impairment measures to inform an evidence-based classification structure in RaceRunning, a new World Para Athletics event for athletes with hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis.

RaceRunning enables athletes with limited or no walking ability to propel themselves independently using a three-wheeled frame that has a saddle, handle bars and a chest plate. For RaceRunning to be included as a para athletics event, an evidence-based classification system is required. This study assessed the impact of trunk control and lower limb impairment measures on RaceRunning performance and evaluated whether cluster analysis of these impairment measures produces a valid classification structure for RaceRunning. The Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE), the Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale (ASAS), and knee extension were recorded for 26 RaceRunning athletes. Thirteen male and 13 female athletes aged 24 (SD = 7) years participated. All impairment measures were significantly correlated with performance (rho = 0.55-0.74). Using ASAS, SCALE, TCMS and knee extension as cluster variables in a two-step cluster analysis resulted in two clusters of athletes. Race speed and the impairment measures were significantly different between the clusters (p < 0.001). The findings of this study provide evidence for the utility of the selected impairment measures in an evidence-based classification system for RaceRunning athletes.

Spasticity or reversible muscle hypertonia?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The increase in resistance to passive muscle stretch in a paretic limb due to an upper motor neurone lesion is often referred to as muscle spasticity. However, this terminology is inaccurate and does not take into account the complex pathogenesis of the condition or describe the factors that contribute to the clinically observed changes in muscle tone. In this report we propose an alternative terminology and explain the reasons for doing so.

Neonatal hypertonia: I. Classification and structural-functional correlates.

Neonatal hypertonic states can be encountered as expressions of abnormal tone and posture. It would be useful for the neonatal neurointensivist to more precisely describe the various presentations of neonatal hypertonia, taking into consideration a classification scheme adopted for hypertonia in children at older ages. An understanding of the ontogeny of muscle tone and posture during fetal and postnatal preterm time periods with maturation to full-term ages will help conceptualize the developmental structural-functional correlates that subserve the evolving expression of this abnormal clinical sign. In the future, a more accurate description of neonatal hypertonic states should be part of the complete clinical examination to help integrate etiology, timing of injury, and neurologic localization before choosing the appropriate therapeutic intervention.

Passive movement therapy in patients with moderate to severe paratonia; study protocol of a randomised clinical trial (ISRCTN43069940).

BACKGROUND: Paratonia, a form of hypertonia, is associated with loss of mobility and with the development of contractures especially in the late stages of the dementia. Passive movement therapy (PMT) currently is the main physiotherapeutic intervention. General doubt about the beneficial effects of this widely used therapy necessitates a randomised clinical trial (RCT) to study the efficacy of PMT on the severity of paratonia and on the improvement of daily care. METHODS/DESIGN: A RCT with a 4-week follow-up period. Patients with dementia (according to the DSM-IV-TR Criteria) and moderate to severe paratonia are included in the study after proxy consent. By means of computerised and concealed block randomisation (block-size of 4) patients are included in one of two groups. The first group receives PMT, the second group receives usual care without PMT. PMT is given according to a protocol by physical therapist three times a week for four weeks in a row. The severity of paratonia (Modified Ashworth scale), the severity of the dementia (Global Deterioration Scale), the clinical improvement (Clinical Global Impressions), the difficulty in daily care (Patient Specific Complaints) and the experienced pain in daily care of the participant (PACSLAC-D) is assessed by assessors blind to treatment allocation at baseline, after 6 and 12 treatments. Success of the intervention is defined as a significant increase of decline on the modified Ashworth scale. The 'proportion of change' in two and four weeks time on this scale will be analysed. Also a multiple logistic regression analysis using declined/not declined criteria as dependent variable with correction for relevant confounders (e.g. stage of dementia, medication, co-morbidity) will be used. DISCUSSION: This study is the first RCT of this size to gain further insight on the effect of passive movement therapy on the severity of paratonia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN43069940.

Using the circumstances of symptom experience to assess the severity of urgency in the overactive bladder.

PURPOSE: We identified a method for quantifying the symptoms of the overactive bladder that addresses the assessment of urgency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational study of a cohort was used. Data were collected prospectively from 5,423 consultations on 1,797 patients (158 males and 1,639 females) being assessed and treated for the overactive bladder. The study was conducted during 5 years. The reported frequencies and incontinence episodes were recorded. Using ranked ordinal scales (none, mild, moderate, severe) the symptoms of urgency and urge incontinence associated with waking and rising, hearing running water, arriving home ("latchkey"), cold weather and when feeling tired or worried were noted. The experiences of urgency and urge incontinence, without reference to the circumstances in which they were experienced were similarly assessed and if on treatment, they were asked to grade their overall response. RESULTS: Reported urinary frequency and incontinence episodes were strongly associated with patient grading of response to treatment. Therefore, the symptoms assessed on the scale of none, mild, moderate and severe were compared with disease severity by using reported frequency and incontinence episodes. The description of the symptoms with reference to the situations in which they were experienced showed clear associations with frequency and incontinence, falling along a progressive scale. An overall pattern could be detected in that at points on the scale of none, mild, moderate and severe, the least frequency and incontinence tended to be associated with waking, rising and latchkey symptoms. Next followed symptoms precipitated by running water and cold weather. Aggravation by fatigue or worry was associated with the greatest disease severity (ANOVA F = 8.9, p <0.001). This scale covered a wide range from frequencies of 7 to 15 times daily and incontinence episodes through 0 to 4 times daily. CONCLUSIONS: Qualifying the experience of urgency and urge incontinence, according to the circumstances in which these symptoms are experienced, seems to offer a promising new method for assessing the severity of urgency and urge incontinence.

Reliability of elbow stretch reflex assessment in chronic post-stroke hemiparesis.

OBJECTIVE: To establish reliability of quantitative measures of elbow joint spastic hypertonia in post-stroke hemiparesis. METHODS: Nine subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis (mn duration: 42 months) were tested on three separate days. Biceps brachii and brachioradialis EMG were recorded during passive ramp-and-hold extensions applied at seven speeds between 30 and 210 degrees /s. EMG burst duration, onset position threshold, and burst intensity were used to evaluate reflex activity. Torque at 40 degrees of elbow flexion was used as a mechanical indicator of spastic hypertonia. RESULTS: Across speeds ICCs were consistent, means ranged between 0.63 and 0.85. Thus, relative reliability was fair to excellent for all parameters. Absolute reliability, determined using standard error of measurement expressed as a percentage of the mean score (%SEM), improved at higher speeds (> or = 120 degrees/s). CONCLUSIONS: These results establish reliability of reflex and mechanical measures of elbow spastic hypertonia post-stroke. The data demonstrate greater reflex detection at high speeds, indicating greater potential to document meaningful changes in these distinct aspects of spastic hypertonia following intervention. SIGNIFICANCE: Based on findings of this study, reliability was demonstrated using four parameters of reflex EMG and torque indicating measurement consistency across sessions. These observations motivate determination of requisite effect sizes for clinical trials that evaluate treatment outcome.

[Pathophysiology of urge, stress, and mixed incontinence]. / Pathophysiologie von Drang-, Belastungs- und Mischinkontinenz.

According to the new ICS classification, urinary incontinence is subdivided by symptomatic, clinical, and urodynamic criteria. Understanding the pathophysiological interactions is important to find the correct diagnosis. Disturbances in bladder storage include urge incontinence due to neurogenic or non-neurogenic (idiopathic) detrusor hyperactivity as well as stress urinary incontinence caused by an insufficient urethral closure mechanism due to reduced pressure transmission (active-passive), hypotonic urethra, hyporeactivity of sphincter musculature, or involuntary relaxation of the urethra. Stress and urge incontinence can occur in combination and then be defined as mixed incontinence.

[Urinary incontinence in the woman--pathophysiology and diagnosis]. / Harninkontinenz der Frau--Pathophysiologie und Diagnostik.

Since urinary incontinence is one of the most frequent female health problems and may severely affect a woman's life quality, knowledge about its pathophysiology, evaluation and therapy is very important. Even basic diagnostic tests can determine the type of incontinence (stress or urge urinary incontinence) thus permitting appropriate therapy to be initiated. The patients history, micturition diary, clinical evaluation, perineal ultrasound and urinalysis are important parts of these basic diagnostic tests. The positive stress cough test and the typical symptoms such as urine loss during physical activity point to the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence. Frequency, nocturia and urgency with or without urine loss as well as more objective criteria such as micturition diaries and urinalysis indicate urge incontinence. Questions to help determine how quality of life is affected by the incontinence symptoms aid in deciding how urgent the treatment is. An urodynamic evaluation together with perineal ultrasound and cystoscopy is performed in patients with complex or recurrent urinary incontinence after surgery or with micturition disorders.

Classification and definition of disorders causing hypertonia in childhood.

OBJECTIVE: This report describes the consensus outcome of an interdisciplinary workshop that was held at the National Institutes of Health in April 2001. The purpose of the workshop and this article are to define the terms "spasticity," "dystonia," and "rigidity" as they are used to describe clinical features of hypertonia in children. The definitions presented here are designed to allow differentiation of clinical features even when more than 1 is present simultaneously. METHODS: A consensus agreement was obtained on the best current definitions and their application in clinical situations. RESULTS: "Spasticity" is defined as hypertonia in which 1 or both of the following signs are present: 1) resistance to externally imposed movement increases with increasing speed of stretch and varies with the direction of joint movement, and/or 2) resistance to externally imposed movement rises rapidly above a threshold speed or joint angle. "Dystonia" is defined as a movement disorder in which involuntary sustained or intermittent muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements, abnormal postures, or both. "Rigidity" is defined as hypertonia in which all of the following are true: 1) the resistance to externally imposed joint movement is present at very low speeds of movement, does not depend on imposed speed, and does not exhibit a speed or angle threshold; 2) simultaneous co-contraction of agonists and antagonists may occur, and this is reflected in an immediate resistance to a reversal of the direction of movement about a joint; 3) the limb does not tend to return toward a particular fixed posture or extreme joint angle; and 4) voluntary activity in distant muscle groups does not lead to involuntary movements about the rigid joints, although rigidity may worsen. CONCLUSION: We have provided a set of definitions for the purpose of identifying different components of childhood hypertonia. We encourage the development of clinical rating scales that are based on these definitions, and we encourage research to relate the degree of hypertonia to the degree of functional ability, change over time, and societal participation in children with motor disorders.

Prospective assessment of tizanidine for spasticity due to acquired brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if orally delivered tizanidine will control spastic hypertonia due to acquired brain injury. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, with 2 8-week treatment arms separated by a 1-week washout period at baseline. Patients were randomly assigned to receive tizanidine or a matching placebo. SETTING: Tertiary care outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation center attached to a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen persons recruited in a consecutive manner, 9 of whom had suffered a stroke and 8 a traumatic brain injury, and had more than 6 months of intractable spastic hypertonia. INTERVENTION: Over a 6-week period, subjects were slowly titrated up to their maximum tolerated dose (up to 36 mg/d). Following a 1-week drug taper and 1-week period in which no study drug was administered, patients were then crossed over to the other study medication following an identical titration regime. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects were evaluated for dose and effect throughout the trial as well as for side effects. Data for Ashworth rigidity scores, spasm scores, deep tendon reflex scores, and motor strength were collected on the affected upper extremity (UE) and lower extremity (LE). Differences over time were assessed via descriptive statistics, Friedman's analysis, and Wilcoxon's signed-rank. Data are reported as the mean +/- 1 standard deviation. RESULTS: Following 4 weeks of treatment when subjects reached their maximal tolerated dosage, the average LE Ashworth score on the affected side decreased from 2.3 +/- 1.4 to 1.7 +/- 1.1 (p <.0001). The spasm score decreased from 1.0 +/- 0.9 to 0.5 +/- 0.8 (p =.0464), while the reflex score was not statistically significant decreasing from 2.2 +/- 1.0 to 2.0 +/- 1.1 (p =.0883). The average UE Ashworth score on the affected side decreased from 1.9 +/- 1.1 to 1.5 +/- 0.9 (p <.0001). There was no significant change in the UE spasm and reflex scores. While there were positive placebo effects on motor tone, the active drug was still significantly better than placebo for decreasing LE tone (p =.0006) and UE tone (p =.0007). With a reduction in motor tone, there was an increase in motor strength (p =.0089). The average dosage at 4 weeks was 25.2mg/d. CONCLUSION: Tizanidine is effective in decreasing the spastic hypertonia associated with acquired brain injury, which is dose-dependent. There are limitations on its use due to side effects related to drowsiness.

Involuntary detrusor contractions: correlation of urodynamic data to clinical categories.

Data regarding the prevalence and urodynamic characteristics of involuntary detrusor contractions (IDC) in various clinical settings, as well as in neurologically intact vs. neurologically impaired patients, are scarce. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the urodynamic characteristics of IDC differ in various clinical categories. One hundred eleven consecutive neurologically intact patients and 21 consecutive neurologically impaired patients, referred for evaluation of persistent irritative voiding symptoms, were prospectively enrolled. All patients were presumed by history to have IDC, and underwent detailed clinical and urodynamic evaluation. Based on clinical evaluation, patients were placed into one of four categories according to the main presenting symptoms and the existence of neurological insult: 1) frequency/urgency; 2) urge incontinence; 3) mixed stress incontinence and irritative symptoms; and 4) neurogenic bladder. IDC was defined by detrusor pressure of > or = 15 cm H2O whether or not the patient perceived the contraction; or < 15 cm H2O if perceived by the patient. Eight urodynamic characteristics of IDC were analyzed and compared between the four groups. IDC were observed in all of the neurologically impaired patients, compared with 76% of the neurologically intact patients (P < 0.001). No correlation was found between amplitude of IDC and subjective report of urgency. All clinical categories demonstrated IDC at approximately 80% of cystometric capacity. Eighty-one percent of the neurologically impaired patients, compared with 97% of the neurologically intact patients, were aware of the IDC at the time of urodynamics (P < 0.04). The ability to abort the IDC was significantly higher among continent patients with frequency/urgency (77%) compared with urge incontinent patients (46%) and neurologically impaired patients (38%). In conclusion, when evaluating detrusor overactivity, the characteristics of the IDC are not distinct enough to aid in differential diagnosis. However, the ability to abort IDC and stop incontinent flow may have prognostic implications, especially for the response to behavior modification, biofeedback, and pelvic floor exercise.