title: Impact of specific symptoms of spasticity on voluntary lower limb muscle function, gait and daily activities during subacute and chronic spinal cord injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the spasticity syndrome is an important sensorimotor disorder, the impact of grade of lower limb muscle hypertonia, spasm and clonus activity on voluntary muscle function, gait and daily activities has not been systematically analysed during subacute and chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of spasticity signs and symptoms during SCI, and to assess their impact on motor function and activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive transverse study of sixty-six subjects with SCI was performed by assessing injury characteristics, spasticity (modified Ashworth scale, Penn scale, SCATS scale) and motor function (lower limb manual muscle scores, WISCI II, spinal cord injury spasticity evaluation tool).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most subjects with the spasticity syndrome presented lower limb hypertonia and spasms during both subacute and chronic SCI, interfering with daily life activities. Subjects with incomplete SCI and hypertonia revealed a loss of voluntary flexor muscle activity, while extensors spasms contributed strongly to loss of gait function. The Penn spasms scale no correlated with muscle function or gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific diagnosis of spasm activity during subacute SCI, and its impact on lower limb voluntary muscle activity, gait function and daily activities, is required to develop a more effective neurorehabilitation treatment strategy.
authors.affiliation: Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain IAI, Consejo Superior de Investigación Cientifíca (CSIC), Arganda del Rey, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bravo-Esteban
authors.affiliation: Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abián-Vicén
authors.affiliation: Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albu
authors.affiliation: Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simón-Martínez
authors.affiliation: IAI, Consejo Superior de Investigación Cientifíca (CSIC), Arganda del Rey, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.affiliation: Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain Escuela de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Castilla LaMancha, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez-Soriano
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIS; SCATS; SCI-SET; Spinal cord injury; WISCI II; flexor and extensor muscle; hypertonia; manual muscle score; modified ashworth scale; penn scale; spasms; spasticity severity; spasticity syndrome; subacute and chronic spinal cord injury