None of the review ed measurement tools demonstrated satisfactory results for all psychometric properties evaluated , and the majority lacked evidence concerning validity and absolute reliability .
This systematic review found limited evidence to support the use of most of clinical measures of spasticity for people post-stroke .
This review identified various clinical measures of spasticity that have been investigated in people after stroke .
PURPOSE To identify and appraise the literature on clinical measures of spasticity that has been investigated in people after stroke .
Occurence and Clinical Predictors of Spasticity After Ischemic Stroke
Background and Purpose — There is currently no consensus on ( 1 ) the percentage of patients who develop spasticity after ischemic stroke , ( 2 ) the relation between spasticity and initial clinical findings after acute stroke , and ( 3 ) the impact of spasticity on activities of daily living and health-related quality of life . Methods — In a prospect i ve cohort study , 301 consecutive patients with clinical signs of central paresis due to a first-ever ischemic stroke were examined in the acute stage and 6 months later . At both times , the degree and pattern of paresis and muscle tone , the Barthel Index , and the EQ-5D score , a st and ardized instrument of health-related quality of life , were evaluated . Spasticity was assessed on the Modified Ashworth Scale and defined as Modified Ashworth Scale > 1 in any of the examined joints . Results — Two hundred eleven patients ( 70.1 % ) were reassessed after 6 months . Of these , 42.6 % ( n=90 ) had developed spasticity . A more severe degree of spasticity ( Modified Ashworth Scale ≥3 ) was observed in 15.6 % of all patients . The prevalence of spasticity did not differ between upper and lower limbs , but in the upper limb muscles , higher degrees of spasticity ( Modified Ashworth Scale ≥3 ) were more frequently ( 18.9 % ) observed than in the lower limbs ( 5.5 % ) . Regression analysis used to test the differences between upper and lower limbs showed that patients with more severe paresis in the proximal and distal limb muscles had a higher risk for developing spasticity ( P≤0.001 ) . Spasticity of the upper and lower limb was more frequent in patients with hemihypesthesia than in patients without sensory deficits ( P≤0.001 ) . Patients with spasticity showed a lower Barthel Index and EQ-5D score compared with the group without spasticity . Conclusions — Spasticity was present in 42.6 % of patients with initial central paresis . However , severe spasticity was relatively rare . Predictors for the development of spasticity were a severe degree of paresis and hemihypesthesia at stroke onset
None of the review ed measurement tools demonstrated satisfactory results for all psychometric properties evaluated , and the majority lacked evidence concerning validity and absolute reliability .
This systematic review found limited evidence to support the use of most of clinical measures of spasticity for people post-stroke .
This review identified various clinical measures of spasticity that have been investigated in people after stroke .
PURPOSE To identify and appraise the literature on clinical measures of spasticity that has been investigated in people after stroke .