title: The application of air bag technology: an objective clinical measure of involuntary muscle spasm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a technique which could objectively monitor and quantify spasms in spinal cord injured persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  This technique used accelerometers to detect movements in the limb caused by spasms. Accelerometer signals from movements caused by spasms and a variety of movements caused by other subject activities (movement in a wheelchair, transfers etc) were recorded and linear discriminant analysis was used to distinguish between spasms and other activities. Individual spasms were quantified by their duration, magnitude and energy and were recorded over a 24-h period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Limb movements caused by spasms were shown to be well correlated with the EMG activity of the muscles causing the movement. Movements caused by spasms and movements caused by other subject activities could be reliably distinguished. Subjects showed a characteristic spasm pattern and it was possible to quantify the severity of the spasms and to determine precisely when they occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique for monitoring and quantifying spasms has the potential to be used as a clinical tool to aid in the evaluation and prescription of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Granat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edmond
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004576:Electromyography; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*