New scale for assessing spasticity based on the pendulum test

Abstract

Quantified assessment of spasticity is essential for the rehabilitation of persons with paralysis. We introduce the new SPAsticity Scale (SPAS), which we found highly correlated with the Modified Ashworth Score (MAS); yet, with a delicate gradation of spasticity compared to the MAS. The parameters defining the SPAS show the level and the type of spasticity (flexion or extension). The SPAS is based on a complex model of the pendulum type oscillations of the lower leg, which includes the spastic torques. The data to calculate SPAS were collected by a wearable instrument with two inertial measurement units and two EMG recording units in subjects with a complete chronic spinal cord injury.

Keywords:

• Spasticity
• pendulum test
• modeling
• spinal cord injury
• spasticity score – SPAS

Acknowledgments

We thank to Lana Popović-Maneski, Ph.D., for developing the software for the pendulum test. We thank to Radoje Čobeljić, M.D, Ph.D. and Prof. Ksenija Ribarić, M.D, Ph.D. for recruiting subjects, performing the galvanic stimulation, and assessing spasticity by the MAS in the Clinic for rehabilitation ‘Dr. Miroslav Zotović’, Belgrade, Serbia.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Serbia, by the Contract of Financing Scientific Work of the Institute of Technical Sciences of the SASA (grant no. 451-03-9/2021-14/200175), and partly by the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The company 3 F-Fit Fabricando Faber (https://www.3-x-f.com/) provided the instrument for assessing kinematics and EMG during the pendulum test.