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Evaluations of neuromuscular dynamics of hyperactive reflexes poststroke

Jie Liu, BS, et al.

Figure 1. Experimental setup for evaluating tendon reflexes at elbow joint. Motor is mounted on supporting frame with motor shaft aligned with elbow flexion axis. Torque sensor is mounted between motor shaft and aluminum beam to measure reflex elbow extension torque. Cast is fixed to aluminum beam through coupling. Motor is fixed at selected joint flexion angle to keep elbow at isometric condition. Rubber pad is mounted at most sensitive spot on triceps tendon, which is tapped with instrumented tendon hammer with force sensor mounted at its tip.

We used a handheld instrumented hammer to tap the triceps muscle tendon and measured the tapping force, muscle activation, and joint torque to quantitatively characterize neuromuscular dynamics of tendon reflexes in patients with stroke and in nondisabled controls. Results showed that quantitative tendon reflex evaluations help us measure spasticity, neurological reflex excitability, and muscle contraction dynamics accurately, which can lead to more accurate characterizations of pathological conditions and rehabilitation outcomes, potentially contributing to better healthcare services for patients with neurological disorders such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.

Volume 48 Number 5, 2011
Pages 577 — 586

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This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows:
Liu J, Xu D, Ren Y, Zhang LQ. Evaluations of neuromuscular dynamics of hyperactive reflexes poststroke.
J Rehabil Res Dev. 2011;48(5):577-86.
DOI:10.1682/JRRD.2010.04.0065

Last Reviewed or Updated Tuesday, May 31, 2011 9:00 AM

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Researchers Dupret-Bories et al recently tested a titanium tracheal prosthesis in sheep to determine the best surgical implantation method. In time, the prosthesis may serve as a substitute for laryngeal cartilage. To learn more about this novel prosthesis, see the slide show, read the article, and listen to the podcast describing the research and other published research in Volume 48, Issue 7.