{"title":"Association of Lower Limb Focal Spasticity With Kinematic Variables During Walking in Traumatic Brain Injury.","authors":"Gavin Williams, Megan Banky","doi":"10.1097/NPT.0000000000000400","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Focal muscle spasticity is defined as spasticity that affects a localized group of muscles. It is prevalent in many adult-onset neurological conditions, yet the relationship of focal muscle spasticity with walking remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship of focal muscle spasticity with the kinematics of walking in traumatic brain injury (TBI).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ninety-one participants with TBI underwent clinical gait analysis and assessment of focal lower limb muscle spasticity in a prospective cross-sectional study. A matched group of 25 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited to establish a reference dataset. Kinematic data for each person with and without focal muscle spasticity following TBI were compared with the HC cohort at a matched walking speed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The TBI and HC cohorts were well matched. Only those with focal hamstring muscle spasticity walked significantly different to those without. They had significantly greater knee flexion (23.4° compared with 10.5°, P < 0.01) at initial contact. There were no other significant differences in kinematic variables between those with and without focal muscle spasticity. There was no significant association between focal muscle spasticity and walking speed.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusions: </strong>Focal muscle spasticity and abnormal kinematics whilst walking were common in this cohort of people with TBI. However, focal muscle spasticity had little relationship with kinematic variables, and no significant relationship with walking speed. This finding has implications for the treatment of focal muscle spasticity to improve walking following TBI. Focal muscle spasticity had little relationship with kinematic variables and walking speed in this cohort of people with TBI who could walk without assistance.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A381).</p>","PeriodicalId":49030,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NPT.0000000000000400","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
Background and purpose: Focal muscle spasticity is defined as spasticity that affects a localized group of muscles. It is prevalent in many adult-onset neurological conditions, yet the relationship of focal muscle spasticity with walking remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship of focal muscle spasticity with the kinematics of walking in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Methods: Ninety-one participants with TBI underwent clinical gait analysis and assessment of focal lower limb muscle spasticity in a prospective cross-sectional study. A matched group of 25 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited to establish a reference dataset. Kinematic data for each person with and without focal muscle spasticity following TBI were compared with the HC cohort at a matched walking speed.
Results: The TBI and HC cohorts were well matched. Only those with focal hamstring muscle spasticity walked significantly different to those without. They had significantly greater knee flexion (23.4° compared with 10.5°, P < 0.01) at initial contact. There were no other significant differences in kinematic variables between those with and without focal muscle spasticity. There was no significant association between focal muscle spasticity and walking speed.
Discussion and conclusions: Focal muscle spasticity and abnormal kinematics whilst walking were common in this cohort of people with TBI. However, focal muscle spasticity had little relationship with kinematic variables, and no significant relationship with walking speed. This finding has implications for the treatment of focal muscle spasticity to improve walking following TBI. Focal muscle spasticity had little relationship with kinematic variables and walking speed in this cohort of people with TBI who could walk without assistance.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A381).
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (JNPT) is an indexed resource for dissemination of research-based evidence related to neurologic physical therapy intervention. High standards of quality are maintained through a rigorous, double-blinded, peer-review process and adherence to standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. With an international editorial board made up of preeminent researchers and clinicians, JNPT publishes articles of global relevance for examination, evaluation, prognosis, intervention, and outcomes for individuals with movement deficits due to neurologic conditions. Through systematic reviews, research articles, case studies, and clinical perspectives, JNPT promotes the integration of evidence into theory, education, research, and practice of neurologic physical therapy, spanning the continuum from pathophysiology to societal participation.