Measurement of Lower Limb Spasticity Using an Inertial Sensor

Spasticity is a common motor impairment in patients with neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the Wartenberg pendulum test using an inertial sensor. The analysis was conducted in six healthy subjects and six patients in vegetative state with severe brain damage secondary to traumatic brain injury (n=3) or cerebrovascular disease (n=3). The reliability analysis showed high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC = 0.77 to 0.89) and low SEM for all measured parameters. The instrumentation here described can provide a reliable measurement of spasticity and be easily applied in the clinical environment.