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Clinical measurement of spasticity using the pendulum test: comparison of electrogoniometric and videotape analyses
1Graduate Department of Community Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Objective:
To compare pendulum test data obtained using an electrogoniometer with data obtained by videotape. The issue of video digitization error was also addressed.
Design:
The study compared pendulum test relaxation indices determined from data simultaneously collected using (1) a video (VID) camera and (2) an electrogonimeter (EG).
Setting:
A spinal cord injury rehabilitation center.
Subjects:
Three persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibiting mild, moderate, and severe spasticity, respectively, and a fourth, non-SCI subject.
Main Outcome Measure:
Relaxation index as a descriptor of lower limb muscle spasticity measured using the pendulum test.
Results:
Multiple-digitization of VID data did not affect the reliability of this technique. It was noted that reflective markers located on body landmarks resulted in more reliable data as opposed to markers placed on the EG. Both EG and VID data were accurate and reliable.
Conclusions:
In the VID method, using one digitization by a single operator is sufficient. The appropriate placement of light reflector markers are on body points. EG and VID are both reliable, highly correlated, and interchangeable in measuring spasticity using the pendulum test.