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[Effect of spasticity on functional capacity in spinal cord injuries: value of visual analogue scale (preliminary
A Blanchard-Dauphin1, B Perrouin-Verbe, A Thévenon
1Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, hôpital Swynghedauw, CHRU, 59037 cedex, Lille, France. anne.dauphin.blanchard@wanadoo.fr
Objectives:
Assessment of the influence of spasticity on activities of daily living in spinal cord injuries.
Material And Methods:
Fifteen patients with spinal cord injuries have been submitted to a clinical examination and functional assessment by FIM. They answer to a questionnaire on the influence of spasticity on 11 activities of daily living (response by visual analogic scale).
Results:
The impact of spasticity in daily life is weak (evaluation of difficulties less than 3 on 10 for 7 of the 11 activities of daily living), except for transfers and precision motions when it is on superior limbs. Spasticity has never been considered as useful by patients (VAS less than 3 for 13 persons).
Discussion:
This study discusses about the real functional influence of spasticity in daily life. It shows the insufficiency of currently used scales and their lack of sensibility to detect the effects of spasticity in daily life's activities.
Conclusion:
Further outcome studies are required to assess the functional role of spasticity in neurologic patients and the real interest of treatments.