Measurement of plantar flexor spasticity during treatment with tone-reducing casts

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that treatment with short-leg, tone-reducing casts will alter resistance of the plantar flexors to dynamic and static stretch. The torque resisting passive dorsiflexion was measured at angular velocities of 0, 12, 60, and 120 degrees/s for 16 spastic extremities. The short-term changes in dynamic sensitivity and static sensitivity were not significant. Longer-term wearing resulted in significant decreases in both dynamic sensitivity and static sensitivity. Thus, a change in resistance to stretch did occur with longer-term casting.