title: Assessment of passive knee stiffness and viscosity in individuals with spinal cord injury using pendulum test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stiffness and viscosity represent passive resistances to joint motion related with the structural properties of the joint tissue and of the musculotendinous complex. Both parameters can be affected in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of this study was to measure passive knee stiffness and viscosity in patients with SCI with paraplegia and healthy subjects using Wartenberg pendulum test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-experimental, cross-sectional, case-control design.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient physical therapy clinic, University of social welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of convenience sample of 30 subjects participated in the study. Subjects were categorized into two groups: individuals with paraplegic SCI (n = 15, age: 34.60 ± 9.18 years) and 15 able-bodied individuals as control group (n = 15, age: 30.66 ± 11.13 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Passive pendulum test of Wartenberg was used to measure passive viscous-elastic parameters of the knee (stiffness, viscosity) in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis (independent t-test) revealed significant difference in the joint stiffness between healthy subjects and those with paraplegic SCI (P = 0.01). However, no significant difference was found in the viscosity between two groups (P = 0.17). Except for first peak flexion angle, all other displacement kinematic parameters exhibited no statistically significant difference between normal subjects and subjects with SCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with SCI have significantly greater joint stiffness compared to able-bodied subjects.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joghtaei
authors.forename: Amir Massoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arab
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashemi-Nasl
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Joghataei
authors.forename: Mohammad Osman
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tokhi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014783:Viscosity
keywords: Paraplegia; Passive pendulum test; Spinal cord injury; Stiffness; Viscosity; Viscous-elastic