Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Isokinetic Robotic Device to Improve Test-Retest and Inter-Rater Reliability for Stretch Reflex Measurements in Stroke Patients with Spasticity
Published on: June 12, 2019
Novel application of a Wii remote to measure spasticity with the pendulum test: Proof of concept
Chien-Hung Yeh1, Chi-Yao Hung2, Yung-Hung Wang3
1Department of Electrical Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan; Research Center for Adaptive Data Analysis, National Central University, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan; Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central University, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan; Medical Biodynamics Program, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Background:
The pendulum test is a standard clinical test for quantifying the severity of spasticity. In the test, an electrogoniometer is typically used to measure the knee angular motion. The device is costly and difficult to set up such that the pendulum test is normally time consuming.
Objective:
The goal of this study is to determine whether a Nintendo Wii remote can replace the electrogroniometer for reliable assessment of the angular motion of the knee in the pendulum test.
Methods:
The pendulum test was performed in three control participants and 13 hemiplegic stroke patients using both a Wii remote and an electrogoniometer. The correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman difference plot were used to compare the results obtained from the two devices. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the difference between hemiplegia-affected and nonaffected sides in the hemiplegic stroke patients.
Results:
There was a fair to strong correlation between measurements from the Wii remote and the electrogoniometer (0.513
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that the Wii remote may serve as a convenient and cost-efficient tool for the assessment of spasticity.
