Assessment of fracture risk tools in care home residents: a multi-centre observational pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Fragility fractures are common in care home residents but established tools have not been tested in this population. AIM: To identify the most practicable tool for use. METHODS: DESIGN: Multicentre prospective observational cohort pilot study. SETTING: 18 care homes in Boston, UK. ASSESSMENTS: fragility risk score at baseline with FRAX, QFractureScore, Garvan nomogram, body mass index and TUGT for each participant. OUTCOMES: falls, fractures, combined falls & fractures. Follow-up; 12 months. RESULTS: 217/618 (35%) residents in the 18 care homes were enrolled. 147 (68%) had mental capacity,70 (32%) did not. There were 325 falls and 10 fractures in participants during the study. At the same time there were 1671 falls and 103 fractures in residents not participating in the study. Multiple regression analyses showed that only age had a statistically significant association with falls (χ2(1) = 5.7775, p = 0.0162), fractures (χ2(1) = 4.7269, p = 0.0297) and combined falls & fractures (χ2(1) = 4.7269, p = 0.0297). C-statistics were: falls; FRAX 0.544, BMI 0.610, QFractureScore 0.554, Garvan nomogram 0.579, TUGT 0.656, fractures; FRAX 0.655, BMI 0.708, QFractureScore 0.736, Garvan nomogram 0.712, TUGT 0.590, combined falls and fractures, c-statistics were same as for fractures. Fifty-four participants (25%) died during follow-up. Charlson comorbidity index predicted mortality, R2 = 0.021 (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: QFractureScore, BMI and Garvan nomogram were good predictors of fractures and combined falls and fractures Only age had statistically significant association with the outcomes. No tool was good predictor of falls.

Epidemiological trends in surgery for rectal prolapse in England 2001-2012: an adult hospital population-based study.

AIM: To analyse trends in admission and surgery for rectal prolapse in adults in England between 2001 and 2012 as well as prolapse reoperation rates. METHOD: Analysis of data derived from a comparative longitudinal population-based cohort study using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 25 238 adults, of median age 73 [interquartile range (IQR: 58-83] years, underwent a total of 29 379 operations for rectal prolapse (mean: 2662 per annum). The female to male ratio of this group of patients was 7:1. Median length of hospital stay was 3 (IQR: 1-7) days with an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 0.9%. Total number of admissions (4950 in 2001/2002 vs 8927 in 2011/2012) and of patients undergoing prolapse surgery (2230 in 2001/2002 vs 2808 in 2011/2012) significantly increased over the study period (P < 0.001 for trends). The overall increase in prolapse surgery (of 33% overall and of 44% for elective procedures) was dwarfed by an increase in popularity of laparoscopic surgery (of 15-fold). Overall prolapse reoperation rate was 12.7%. The lowest recurrence rate was observed for elective open resection (9.1%) but this had the highest mortality (1.9%). Laparoscopic and perineal fixations were also associated with low reoperation rates (< 11%) and the lowest mortality rates, of 0.3%, when these procedures were elective. These data refute a trend towards subspecialization (by surgeon or hospital) during the study period. CONCLUSION: Admissions for rectal prolapse increased in England between 2001 and 2012, together with increases in rectal prolapse surgery. Surgical decision making has changed over this period and may be reflected in outcome.

Non-pharmacological interventions for chronic cough: The past, present and future.

Non-pharmacological interventions have been explored in people with refractory chronic cough. Normally delivered by Physiotherapists and or Speech and Language Therapists, these interventions aim to educate patients about their cough, provide them with cough suppression techniques and breathing exercises, improve vocal/laryngeal hydration and psychoeducational counselling to help them gain greater control of their cough. Six key studies have been completed over the past 12 years that have consistently found non-pharmacological interventions help to improve quality of life and reduce cough frequency. Some studies also found improvements in cough reflex sensitivity and severity. Despite promising results there now needs to be further work to optimise these interventions. There is a need to standardise terminology used such as relabelling the intervention as cough control therapy and move away from uni-disciplinary terms. Standardised patient selection, including screening protocols, optimal timing and delivery of the interventions as well as the outcome measures used to evaluate interventions need further exploration.

A systematic review of early life factors which adversely affect subsequent lung function.

It has been known for many years that multiple early life factors can adversely affect lung function and future respiratory health. This is the first systematic review to attempt to analyse all these factors simultaneously. We adhered to strict a priori criteria for inclusion and exclusion of studies. The initial search yielded 29,351 citations of which 208 articles were reviewed in full and 25 were included in the review. This included 6 birth cohorts and 19 longitudinal population studies. The 25 studies reported the effect of 74 childhood factors (on their own or in combinations with other factors) on subsequent lung function reported as percent predicted forced expiration in one second (FEV1). The childhood factors that were associated with a significant reduction in future FEV1 could be grouped as: early infection, bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR) / airway lability, a diagnosis of asthma, wheeze, family history of atopy or asthma, respiratory symptoms and prematurity / low birth weight. A complete mathematical model will only be possible if the raw data from all previous studies is made available. This highlights the need for increased cooperation between researchers and the need for international consensus about the outcome measures for future longitudinal studies.

Proximal interphalangeal joint replacement in patients with arthritis of the hand: a meta-analysis.

We systematically reviewed all the evidence published in the English language on proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) replacement, to determine its effectiveness on the function of the hand and the associated post-operative complications. Original studies were selected if they reported clinical outcome with a minimum of one year's follow-up. Quality was assessed using the Cowley systematic review criteria modified for finger-joint replacements. Of 319 articles identified, only five were adequately reported according to our quality criteria; there were no randomised controlled trials. PIPJ replacements had a substantial effect size on hand pain of -23.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) -27.3 to -19.1) and grip strength 1.2 (95% CI -10.7 to 13.1), and a small effect on range of movement 0.2 (95% CI -0.4 to 0.8). A dorsal approach was most successful. Post-operative loosening occurred in 10% (95% CI 3 to 30) of ceramic and 12.5% (95% CI 7 to 21) of pyrocarbon replacements. Post-operative complications occurred in 27.8% (95% CI 20 to 37). We conclude that the effectiveness of PIPJ replacement has not been established. Small observational case studies and short-term follow-up, together with insufficient reporting of patient data, functional outcomes and complications, limit the value of current evidence. We recommend that a defined core set of patients, surgical and outcome data for this intervention be routinely and systematically collected within the framework of a joint registry.

A systematic review and synthesis of the quantitative and qualitative evidence behind patient-centred goal setting in stroke rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To map out from the literature the nature, extent and effects of application of patient-centred goal setting in stroke rehabilitation practice. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: A search was conducted in the Cochrane (Wiley), AMED, Medline (EBSCO), Embase, Sports discuss, Medline (Ovid) and CINAHL databases. Secondary search based on references from the preliminary search was undertaken. REVIEW METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative studies that included aspects of patient-centredness and goal setting in stroke patients from 1980 to June 2010 were collected. Studies were scrutinized for relevance and quality based on published methodology. The findings were synthesized by aggregating the themes from the qualitative studies and relating them to relevant findings from the quantitative studies. RESULTS: Eighteen qualitative and eight quantitative and one mixed method study conducted in stroke rehabilitation services ranging from acute to community rehabilitation were included. Themes that emerged were related to perceptions of patients and professionals regarding patient-centredness, nominal adoption of this concept, consequences of discrepancies in the perceptions and practice, related ethical conflicts, challenges to application and strategies to improve its application. The effects of following patient-centred goal-setting practice have been studied mostly with weak methodologies and studies show some benefit with psychological outcomes. CONCLUSION: Patient-centred goal setting is minimally adopted in goal-setting practice due to various barriers. Since the effects of incorporating this concept have not been evaluated rigorously it is suggested that further research is essential to investigate its effect on patient outcomes.

Spasticity and contractures at the wrist after stroke: time course of development and their association with functional recovery of the upper limb.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the time course of development of spasticity and contractures at the wrist after stroke and to explore if these are associated with upper limb functional recovery. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study using secondary data from the control group of a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The Acute Stroke Unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. SUBJECTS: Patients without useful arm function (Action Research Arm Test - ARAT) score of 0 within 6 weeks of a first stroke. MAIN MEASURES: Spasticity was measured by quantifying muscle activity during passively imposed stretches at two velocities. Contractures were measured by quantifying passive range of movement and stiffness. Upper limb functional movement was assessed using the ARAT. All assessments were conducted at baseline, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 weeks after recruitment. RESULTS: Thirty patients (43% male, median age 70 (range 52-90) years, median time since stroke onset 3 (range 1-5) weeks) were included. Twenty-eight (92%) demonstrated signs of spasticity throughout the study period. Participants who recovered arm function (n = 5) showed signs of spasticity at all assessment points but did not develop contractures. Patients who did not recover useful arm function (n = 25) had signs of spasticity and changes associated with contracture formation at all time points tested. CONCLUSION: In this group of patients who had no arm function within the first 6 weeks of stroke, spasticity was seen early, but did not necessarily hinder functional recovery. Contractures were more likely to develop in patients who did not recover arm function.

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

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.

A systematic review of the Tardieu Scale for the measurement of spasticity.

BACKGROUND: The Tardieu Scale has been suggested a more appropriate clinical measure of spasticity than the Ashworth or modified Ashworth Scales. It appears to adhere more closely to Lance's definition of spasticity as it involves assessment of resistance to passive movement at both slow and fast speeds. OBJECTIVE: To review the available literature in which the Tardieu Scale has been used or discussed as a measure of spasticity, with a view to determining its validity and reliability. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of all literature found related to the Tardieu Scale (keywords: Tardieu scale, spasticity) from Pubmed and Ovid databases, including medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Journals at Ovid full text, EBM reviews and Cochrane database of systematic reviews. Hand searching was also used to track the source literature. CONCLUSIONS: In theory, we can acknowledge that the Tardieu Scale does, in fact, adhere more closely to Lance's definition of spasticity. However, there is a dearth of literature investigating validity and reliability of the scale. Some studies have identified the Tardieu Scale to be more sensitive than other measures, to change following treatment with botulinum toxin. Further studies need to be undertaken to clarify the validity and reliability of the scale for a variety of muscle groups in adult neurological patients.

Biomechanical approaches applied to the lower and upper limb for the measurement of spasticity: a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: To review and characterise biomechanical approaches for the measurement of spasticity as one component of the upper motor neurone syndrome. METHOD: Systematic literature searches based on defined constructs and a four-step review process of approaches used or described to measure spasticity, its association with function or associated phenomena. Most approaches were limited to individual joints and therefore, to reflect this trend, references were grouped according to which body joint(s) were investigated or whether it addressed a functional activity. For each joint, references were further sub-divided into the types of measurement method described. RESULTS: A database of 335 references was established for the review process. The knee, ankle and elbow joints were the most popular, perhaps reflecting the assumption that they are mono-planar in movement and therefore simpler to assess. Seven measurement methods were identified: five involving passive movement (manual, controlled displacement, controlled torque, gravitational and tendon tap) and two involving active movement (voluntary and functional). Generally, the equipment described was in an experimental stage and there was a lack of information on system properties, such as accuracy or reliability. Patient testing was either by cohort or case studies. The review also conveyed the myriad of interpretations of the concept of spasticity. CONCLUSIONS: Though biomechanical approaches provide quantitative data, the review highlighted several limitations that have prevented them being established as an appropriate method for clinical application to measure spasticity.

Theoretical and methodological considerations in the measurement of spasticity.

PURPOSE: To discuss the measurement of spasticity in the clinical and research environments, make recommendations based on the SPASM reviews of biomechanical, neurophysiological and clinical methods of measuring spasticity and indicate future developments of measurement tools. METHOD: Using the results of the systematic reviews of the biomechanical, neurophysiological and clinical approaches, methods were evaluated across three dimensions: (1) validity, reliability and sensitivity to change; (2) practical quality such as ease of use and (3) qualities specific to the measurement of spasticity, for example ability to be applied to different muscle groups. Methods were considered in terms of applicability to research and clinical applications. RESULTS: A hierarchy of measurement approaches was identified from highly controlled and more objective (but unrelated to function) to ecologically valid, but less objective and subject to contamination from other variables. The lack of a precise definition of spasticity may account for the problem of developing a valid, reliable and sensitive method of measurement. The reviews have identified that some tests measure spasticity per se, some phenomena associated with spasticity or consequential to it and others the effect of spasticity on activity and participation and independence. CONCLUSIONS: Methods appropriate for use in research, particularly into the mechanism of spasticity did not satisfy the needs of the clinician and the need for an objective but clinically applicable tool was identified. A clinical assessment may need to generate more than one 'value' and should include evaluation of other components of the upper motor neurone syndrome. There is therefore a need for standardized protocols for 'best practice' in application of spasticity measurement tools and scales.

Does spasticity result from hyperactive stretch reflexes? Preliminary findings from a stretch reflex characterization study.

PURPOSE: To characterize the stretch reflex response of the biceps brachii in stroke patients with elbow spasticity (prior to or within 15 min of treatment with botulinum toxin) and non-impaired volunteers with the aim of quantifying the stretch reflex excitability and observe the differences between the groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional study. Stretch reflexes from the biceps brachii were elicited following a controlled elbow extension. The amplitude, latency, rise time and duration, calculated from surface EMG recordings from the biceps brachii, were used to characterize the stretch reflex response. RESULTS: Seventeen non-impaired and 14 stroke patients participated. The amplitude was significantly lower in stroke patients than in non-impaired volunteers (p<0.05). The latency was significantly shorter in stroke patients than in non-impaired volunteers (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in rise time or duration (p>0.10). DISCUSSION: Reduction in the amplitude in stroke patients was unexpected suggesting the stretch reflex is not necessarily hyper-excitable in people with clinically diagnosed spasticity. Latency differences suggest decreased presynaptic inhibition and/or increased motor neurone excitability can occur following a stroke. However, carry over effects from previous botulinum toxin treatment may have confounded amplitude measurements. Further work evaluating the excitability of the stretch reflex independent of Botulinum toxin and its contribution to resistance to passive stretching is being conducted.

Contractures in the post-stroke wrist: a pilot study of its time course of development and its association with upper limb recovery.

BACKGROUND: Contractures are common in a stroke population, yet there is little information on the time course of development. OBJECTIVES: Investigate quantitatively changes associated with contracture formation in an acute stroke population. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal study on 22 subjects who were 2-4 weeks post stroke. OUTCOME MEASURES: Contractures were assessed by quantifying the resting posture, resistance to passive movement and passive range of movement. Upper limb function was measured using the Action Research Arm Test and the Nine-Hole Peg Test. Active range of extension, wrist extension strength (isometric), grip strength and neglect were also measured. REPEATED MEASURES: Following an initial assessment, repeated measurements were taken at 4, 8, 20 and 32 weeks after recruitment. RESULTS: Two distinct subgroups, one capable of some functional movement (F group; 8 subjects) and another which was not (NF group; 14 subjects), were identified at the start of the study. The NF group showed changes associated with contracture formation at the wrist, i.e., reduction in the passive range of movement, an increase in resistance to passive movement and a worsening of the flexion posture. Changes were observed from the time of recruitment even though neglect improved. The F group showed improvements in upper limb function and there was no evidence to support contracture formation. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects most prone to contracture formation were those who showed no signs of early functional recovery (2-4 weeks after the stroke). Changes consistent with adaptive shortening were seen from week 4 of the study period.

Biomechanical examination of a commonly used measure of spasticity.

BACKGROUND: An increase in the prevalence of neurological disability puts pressure on service providers to restrict costs associated with rehabilitation. Spasticity is an important neurological impairment for which many novel and expensive treatment options now exist. The antispastic effects of these techniques remain unexplored due to a paucity of valid outcome measures. AIM: To develop a biomechanical measure of resistance to passive movement, which could be used in routine clinical practice, and to examine the validity of the modified Ashworth scale. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated measure cross-section study on 16 subjects who had a unilateral stroke one-week previously and had no elbow contractures. OUTCOME MEASURES: Simultaneous measurement of resistance to passive movement using a custom built measuring device and the modified Ashworth scale. Passive range of movement and velocity were also measured. The "catch", a phenomenon associated with the modified Ashworth scale, was identified by the assessor using a horizontal visual analogue scale and biomechanically quantified using the residual calculated from a linear regression technique. RESULTS: Half the study population had a modified Ashworth score greater than zero. The association between the two measures was poor (kappa=0.366). The speed and range of passive movement were greater in subjects with modified Ashworth score "0" (P<0.05). Resistance to passive movement was higher in the impaired arm (P<0.05) and tended to decrease with repeated measures and increasing speeds. CONCLUSIONS: A device to measure resistance to passive movement at the elbow was developed. The modified Ashworth scale may not provide a valid measure of spasticity but a measure of resistance to passive movement in an acute stroke population. RELEVANCE: Spasticity is an important neurological impairment for which many novel and expensive treatment options are being made available. There is a paucity of clinically usable outcomes to measure spasticity. A device to measure resistance to passive movement at the elbow, which was more reliable than the modified Ashworth scale was developed. This device may provide a much needed objective clinical measure to evaluate the efficacy of antispasticity treatment.

Assessing motor deficits in neurological rehabilitation: patterns of instrument usage.

To describe current patterns in the use of clinical scales and measurement technology for the assessment of motor deficits in neurological rehabilitation. Questionnaire, sent to the 2,556 members of the World Forum for Neurological Rehabilitation, distributed over 75 countries. Sixty-eight questionnaires were returned. Generally, participants indicated that the centres where they were based used a number of different clinical assessment scales (median, three), most frequently with a small proportion of patients. The (Modified) Ashworth Scale, the FIM, and the Fugl-Meyer were used most frequently. Only 35 respondents stated that their centre used one or more scales in >75% of their patients, but the choice of such routinely applied instruments varied between centres. The application of measurement technology was restricted, with video and goniometry being used most frequently. The main barriers to more frequent use of assessment tools were perceived to be a lack of resources, information, and training. The (albeit limited) results from this survey suggest that the assessment of motor deficits in neurological rehabilitation is currently mostly qualitative and lacks standardisation. More resources and education are required to support a more routine application of assessment tools and to integrate measurement technology further in neurological rehabilitation to assist in the process of quantification of outcomes.

Electrical stimulation for preventing and treating post-stroke shoulder pain: a systematic Cochrane review.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain after stroke is common and disabling. The optimal management is uncertain, but electrical stimulation (ES) is often used to treat and prevent pain. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to determine the efficacy of any form of surface ES in the prevention and/or treatment of pain around the shoulder at any time after stroke. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Review Group trials register and undertook further searches of Medline, Embase and CINAHL. Contact was established with equipment manufacturers and centres that have published on the topic of ES. SELECTION CRITERIA: We considered all randomized trials that assessed any surface ES technique (functional electrical stimulation (FES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or other), applied at any time since stroke for the purpose of prevention or treatment of shoulder pain. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed trial quality and extracted the data. MAIN RESULTS: Four trials (a total of 170 subjects) fitted the inclusion criteria. Study design and ES technique varied considerably, often precluding the combination of studies. Population numbers were small. There was no significant change in pain incidence (odds ratio (OR) 0.64; 95% CI 0.19-2.14) or change in pain intensity (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.13; 95% CI -1.0-1.25) after ES treatment compared with control. There was a significant treatment effect in favour of ES for improvement in pain-free range of passive humeral lateral rotation (weighted mean difference (WMD) 9.17; 95% CI 1.43-16.91). In these studies ES reduced the severity of glenohumeral subluxation (SMD -1.13; 95% CI -1.66 to -0.60), but there was no significant effect on upper limb motor recovery (SMD 0.24; 95% CI -0.14-0.62) or upper limb spasticity (WMD 0.05; 95% CI -0.28-0.37). There did not appear to be any negative effects of electrical stimulation at the shoulder. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence from randomized controlled trials so far does not confirm or refute that ES around the shoulder after stroke influences reports of pain, but there do appear to be benefits for passive humeral lateral rotation. A possible mechanism is through the reduction of glenohumeral subluxation. Further studies are required.

Electrical stimulation for preventing and treating post-stroke shoulder pain.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain after stroke is common and disabling. The optimal management is uncertain, but electrical stimulation (ES) is often used to treat and prevent pain. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to determine the efficacy of any form of surface ES in the prevention and / or treatment of pain around the shoulder at any time after stroke. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Review Group trials register and undertook further searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL. Contact was established with equipment manufacturers and centres that have published on the topic of ES. SELECTION CRITERIA: We considered all randomised trials that assessed any surface ES technique (functional electrical stimulation (FES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or other), applied at any time since stroke for the purpose of prevention or treatment of shoulder pain. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed trial quality and extracted the data. MAIN RESULTS: Four trials (a total of 170 subjects) fitted the inclusion criteria. Study design and ES technique varied considerably, often precluding the combination of studies. Population numbers were small. There was no significant change in pain incidence (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.64; 95% CI 0.19 to 2.14) or change in pain intensity (Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) 0.13; 95% CI -1.0 to 1.25) after ES treatment compared to control. There was a significant treatment effect in favour of ES for improvement in pain-free range of passive humeral lateral rotation (Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) 9.17; 95% CI 1.43 to 16.91). In these studies ES reduced the severity of glenohumeral subluxation (SMD -1.13; 95% CI -1.66 to -0.60), but there was no significant effect on upper limb motor recovery (SMD 0.24; 95% CI -0.14 to 0.62) or upper limb spasticity (WMD 0.05; 95% CI -0.28 to 0.37). There did not appear to be any negative effects of electrical stimulation at the shoulder. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: The evidence from randomised controlled trials so far does not confirm or refute that ES around the shoulder after stroke influences reports of pain, but there do appear to be benefits for passive humeral lateral rotation. A possible mechanism is through the reduction of glenohumeral subluxation. Further studies are required.

A review of the properties and limitations of the Ashworth and modified Ashworth Scales as measures of spasticity.

BACKGROUND: The Ashworth Scale and the modified Ashworth Scale are the primary clinical measures of spast city. A prerequisite for using any scale is a knowledge of its characteristics and limitations, as these will play a part in analysing and interpreting the data. Despite the current emphasis on treating spasticity, clinicians rarely measure it. OBJECTIVES: To determine the validity and the reliability of the Ashworth and modified Ashworth Scales. STUDY DESIGN: A theoretical analysis following a structured literature review (key words: Ashworth; Spasticity; Measurement) of 40 papers selected from the BIDS-EMBASE, First Search and Medline databases. CONCLUSIONS: The application of both scales would suggest that confusion exists on their characteristics and limitations as measures of spasticity. Resistance to passive movement is a complex measure that will be influenced by many factors, only one of which could be spasticity. The Ashworth Scale (AS) can be used as an ordinal level measure of resistance to passive movement, but not spasticity. The modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) will need to be treated as a nominal level measure of resistance to passive movement until the ambiguity between the '1' and '1+' grades is resolved. The reliability of the scales is better in the upper limb. The AS may be more reliable than the MAS. There is a need to standardize methods to apply these scales in clinical practice and research.

Electrical stimulation of wrist extensors in poststroke hemiplegia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been suggested that cyclic neuromuscular electrical stimulation (ES) may enhance motor recovery after stroke. We have investigated the effects of ES of the wrist extensors on impairment of wrist function and on upper-limb disability in patients being rehabilitated after acute stroke. METHODS: We recruited 60 hemiparetic patients (mean age, 68 years) 2 to 4 weeks after stroke into a randomized, controlled, parallel-group study comparing standard rehabilitation treatment with standard treatment plus ES of wrist extensors (3 times 30 minutes daily for 8 weeks). Isometric strength of wrist extensors was measured using a device built for that purpose. Upper-limb disability was assessed with use of the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Observations were continued for 32 weeks (24 weeks after the finish of ES or the control intervention phase). RESULTS: The change in isometric strength of wrist extensors (at an angle of 0 degrees extension) was significantly greater in the ES group than the control group at both 8 and 32 weeks (P=0.004, P=0.014 by Mann Whitney U test). At week 8 the grasp and grip subscores of the ARAT increased significantly in the ES group compared with that in the control group (P=0.013 and P=0.02, respectively); a similar trend was seen for the total ARAT score (P=0.11). In the subgroup of 33 patients with some residual wrist extensor strength at study entry (moment at 0 degrees extension >0), the ARAT total score had increased at week 8 by a mean of 21.1 (SD, 12.7) in the ES group compared with 10.3 (SD, 9.0) in the control group (P=0.024, Mann Whitney U test); however, at 32 weeks the differences between these 2 subgroups were no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: ES of the wrist extensors enhances the recovery of isometric wrist extensor strength in hemiparetic stroke patients. Upper-limb disability was reduced after 8 weeks of ES therapy, with benefits most apparent in those with some residual motor function at the wrist. However, it is not clear how long the improvements in upper-limb disability are maintained after ES is discontinued.