Biomaterial Database

Assessment of spasticity in hemiplegic cerebral palsy. II: Distal lower-limb reflex excitability and function. 1994

J P Lin, and J K Brown, and R Brotherstone

Edinburgh University, Faculty of Medicine, UK.

A clinical method for measuring the stretch reflex threshold and gain of muscles acting across the ankle joint in children with congenital hemiplegia is described. The stretch reflexes of all limbs were velocity-dependent. Hemiparetic limbs were not necessarily spastic compared with non-paretic limbs, suggesting that the term 'spastic hemiplegia' should be used more selectively and emphasis be placed on the heterogeneity of the hemisyndromes of childhood. Abnormal motor control, planning and dexterity, the hemipostures and plastic (non-electrical) muscle changes may be more important measures of impairment than reflex excitability. A general scheme for assessing reflex excitability and available treatments applicable to all types of cerebral palsy is proposed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009128	Muscle Spasticity	A form of muscle hypertonia associated with upper MOTOR NEURON DISEASE. Resistance to passive stretch of a spastic muscle results in minimal initial resistance (a "free interval") followed by an incremental increase in muscle tone. Tone increases in proportion to the velocity of stretch. Spasticity is usually accompanied by HYPERREFLEXIA and variable degrees of MUSCLE WEAKNESS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p54)	Clasp-Knife Spasticity,Spastic,Clasp Knife Spasticity,Spasticity, Clasp-Knife,Spasticity, Muscle
D012026	Reflex, Stretch	Reflex contraction of a muscle in response to stretching, which stimulates muscle proprioceptors.	Reflex, Tendon,Stretch Reflex,Tendon Reflex
D002547	Cerebral Palsy	A heterogeneous group of nonprogressive motor disorders caused by chronic brain injuries that originate in the prenatal period, perinatal period, or first few years of life. The four major subtypes are spastic, athetoid, ataxic, and mixed cerebral palsy, with spastic forms being the most common. The motor disorder may range from difficulties with fine motor control to severe spasticity (see MUSCLE SPASTICITY) in all limbs. Spastic diplegia (Little disease) is the most common subtype, and is characterized by spasticity that is more prominent in the legs than in the arms. Pathologically, this condition may be associated with LEUKOMALACIA, PERIVENTRICULAR. (From Dev Med Child Neurol 1998 Aug;40(8):520-7)	Diplegic Infantile Cerebral Palsy,Little Disease,Monoplegic Cerebral Palsy,Quadriplegic Infantile Cerebral Palsy,Spastic Diplegia,CP (Cerebral Palsy),Cerebral Palsy, Athetoid,Cerebral Palsy, Atonic,Cerebral Palsy, Congenital,Cerebral Palsy, Diplegic, Infantile,Cerebral Palsy, Dyskinetic,Cerebral Palsy, Dystonic-Rigid,Cerebral Palsy, Hypotonic,Cerebral Palsy, Mixed,Cerebral Palsy, Monoplegic, Infantile,Cerebral Palsy, Quadriplegic, Infantile,Cerebral Palsy, Rolandic Type,Cerebral Palsy, Spastic,Congenital Cerebral Palsy,Diplegia, Spastic,Infantile Cerebral Palsy, Diplegic,Infantile Cerebral Palsy, Monoplegic,Infantile Cerebral Palsy, Quadriplegic,Little's Disease,Monoplegic Infantile Cerebral Palsy,Rolandic Type Cerebral Palsy,Athetoid Cerebral Palsy,Atonic Cerebral Palsy,Cerebral Palsies, Athetoid,Cerebral Palsies, Dyskinetic,Cerebral Palsies, Dystonic-Rigid,Cerebral Palsies, Monoplegic,Cerebral Palsy, Dystonic Rigid,Cerebral Palsy, Monoplegic,Diplegias, Spastic,Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy,Dystonic-Rigid Cerebral Palsies,Dystonic-Rigid Cerebral Palsy,Hypotonic Cerebral Palsies,Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy,Mixed Cerebral Palsies,Mixed Cerebral Palsy,Monoplegic Cerebral Palsies,Spastic Cerebral Palsies,Spastic Cerebral Palsy,Spastic Diplegias
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260	Female		Females
D006429	Hemiplegia	Severe or complete loss of motor function on one side of the body. This condition is usually caused by BRAIN DISEASES that are localized to the cerebral hemisphere opposite to the side of weakness. Less frequently, BRAIN STEM lesions; cervical SPINAL CORD DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; and other conditions may manifest as hemiplegia. The term hemiparesis (see PARESIS) refers to mild to moderate weakness involving one side of the body.	Monoplegia,Hemiplegia, Crossed,Hemiplegia, Flaccid,Hemiplegia, Infantile,Hemiplegia, Post-Ictal,Hemiplegia, Spastic,Hemiplegia, Transient,Crossed Hemiplegia,Crossed Hemiplegias,Flaccid Hemiplegia,Flaccid Hemiplegias,Hemiplegia, Post Ictal,Hemiplegias,Hemiplegias, Crossed,Hemiplegias, Flaccid,Hemiplegias, Infantile,Hemiplegias, Post-Ictal,Hemiplegias, Spastic,Hemiplegias, Transient,Infantile Hemiplegia,Infantile Hemiplegias,Monoplegias,Post-Ictal Hemiplegia,Post-Ictal Hemiplegias,Spastic Hemiplegia,Spastic Hemiplegias,Transient Hemiplegia,Transient Hemiplegias
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man