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Muscle length effect on the pendulum test

V Fowler1, C G Canning, J H Carr

  • 1School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|February 25, 1998
PubMed
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Stroke survivors exhibit reduced knee joint movement, similar to healthy individuals when muscle length is considered. This suggests soft tissue changes, not hyperreflexia, may cause these differences in knee extensor muscles.

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Neurorehabilitation
  • Kinesiology

Background:

  • Stroke survivors often experience impaired motor function, including alterations in muscle properties.
  • The pendulum test is a clinical tool to assess reflex activity and muscle stiffness.
  • Knee extensor muscle length is a potential factor influencing dynamic joint movements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between knee extensor muscle length and pendulum test outcomes in stroke survivors.
  • To compare pendulum test parameters between stroke survivors and healthy individuals.
  • To determine if soft tissue changes or hyperreflexia are primary contributors to altered knee function post-stroke.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive study design was employed.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants included 20 stroke survivors (54-83 years) and 31 healthy controls (60-79 years).
  • Pendulum and knee extensor muscle length tests were administered, with statistical analysis using ANOVA.

    • Main Results:

    • Stroke subjects demonstrated significantly lower angle of reversal, peak angular velocity, and maximum passive knee flexion in both affected and intact legs compared to healthy subjects.
    • When normalized for passive knee flexion, no significant differences were found between stroke and healthy groups.
    • No significant differences were observed between the affected and intact legs of stroke survivors.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings suggest that altered soft tissue properties, rather than hyperreflexia, are likely responsible for the observed reductions in pendulum test parameters in stroke survivors.
    • Muscle length adjustments may play a crucial role in the dynamic movement patterns of stroke survivors.
    • These results have implications for understanding and treating motor deficits in stroke rehabilitation.