CLINICAL MEASUREMENT OF SPASTICITY USING THE PENDULUM TEST - COMPARISON OF ELECTROGONIOMETRIC AND VIDEOTAPE ANALYSES

Objective: To compare pendulum test data obtained using an electrogoni ometer with data obtained by videotape. The issue of video digitizatio n error was also addressed. Design: The study compared pendulum test r elaxation indices determined from data simultaneously collected using (1) a video (VID) camera and (2) an electrogonimeter (EG). Setting: A spinal cord injury rehabilitation center. Subjects: Three persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibiting mild, moderate, and severe spas ticity, respectively, and a fourth, non-SCI subject. Main Outcome Meas ure: Relaxation index as a descriptor of lower limb muscle spasticity measured using the pendulum test. Results: Multiple-digitization of VI D data did not affect the reliability of this technique. It was noted that reflective markers located on body landmarks resulted in more rel iable data as opposed to markers placed on the EG. Both EG and VID dat a were accurate and reliable. Conclusions: In the VID method, using on e digitization by a single operator is sufficient. The appropriate pla cement of light reflector markers are on body points. EG and VID are b oth reliable, highly correlated, and interchangeable in measuring spas ticity using the pendulum test. (C) 1996 by the American Congress of R ehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine a nd Rehabilitation