Quantitative evaluation of normal muscle tone

Fabrizio Pisano; Giacinta Miscio; Roberto Colombo; Paolo Pinelli

doi:10.1016/0022-510X(95)00291-9

Quantitative evaluation of normal muscle tone

Fabrizio Pisano, Giacinta Miscio, Roberto Colombo, Paolo Pinelli

Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Spa – Società Benefit

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Forty-eight normal subjects were evaluated for the purpose of objectively quantifying muscle tone, Flexor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum communis electromyographic (EMG) activity was simultaneously recorded during wrist movements imposed by a torque motor. Each session was subdivided into three steps: (1) measurement of the 'intrinsic stiffness index' (ISI) at 10°/s; (2) measurement of the 'total stiffness index' (TSI) at 500°/s; (3) evaluation of the stretch reflex threshold speed (SRTS). No stretch reflex (SR) was found in about half of the subjects, even at the highest speed. ISI was higher in males (p <0.001); significant differences in TSI were found between subjects with SR and those without (p <0.02); no statistical differences in SRTS were found for either age or gender. ISI, TSI and SRTS, appear to be reliable indices of the range of normal muscle tone for its quantitative assessment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	168-172
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume	135
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-510X(95)00291-9
Publication status	Published - Feb 1996

Keywords

Biomechanical device
EMG
Muscle tone
Shortening reaction
Stiffness
Stretch reflex

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ageing
Clinical Neurology
Surgery
Developmental Neuroscience
Neurology
Neuroscience(all)

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10.1016/0022-510X(95)00291-9

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title = "Quantitative evaluation of normal muscle tone",

abstract = "Forty-eight normal subjects were evaluated for the purpose of objectively quantifying muscle tone, Flexor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum communis electromyographic (EMG) activity was simultaneously recorded during wrist movements imposed by a torque motor. Each session was subdivided into three steps: (1) measurement of the 'intrinsic stiffness index' (ISI) at 10°/s; (2) measurement of the 'total stiffness index' (TSI) at 500°/s; (3) evaluation of the stretch reflex threshold speed (SRTS). No stretch reflex (SR) was found in about half of the subjects, even at the highest speed. ISI was higher in males (p <0.001); significant differences in TSI were found between subjects with SR and those without (p <0.02); no statistical differences in SRTS were found for either age or gender. ISI, TSI and SRTS, appear to be reliable indices of the range of normal muscle tone for its quantitative assessment.",

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author = "Fabrizio Pisano and Giacinta Miscio and Roberto Colombo and Paolo Pinelli",

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N2 - Forty-eight normal subjects were evaluated for the purpose of objectively quantifying muscle tone, Flexor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum communis electromyographic (EMG) activity was simultaneously recorded during wrist movements imposed by a torque motor. Each session was subdivided into three steps: (1) measurement of the 'intrinsic stiffness index' (ISI) at 10°/s; (2) measurement of the 'total stiffness index' (TSI) at 500°/s; (3) evaluation of the stretch reflex threshold speed (SRTS). No stretch reflex (SR) was found in about half of the subjects, even at the highest speed. ISI was higher in males (p <0.001); significant differences in TSI were found between subjects with SR and those without (p <0.02); no statistical differences in SRTS were found for either age or gender. ISI, TSI and SRTS, appear to be reliable indices of the range of normal muscle tone for its quantitative assessment.

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Quantitative evaluation of normal muscle tone

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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