Functional Assessment of Lower Extremities in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Abstract
Braschinsky M, Parts K, Maamägi H, Gross-Paju K, Haldre S. Functional assessment of lower extremities in hereditary spastic paraplegia.
Objectives
To characterize the spasticity and range of motion (ROM) in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and to correlate these parameters with walking speed.
Design
An observational population-based cohort study.
Setting
Patient data were acquired from a population-based epidemiologic study performed earlier in Estonia.
Participants
Persons (N=46) (mean age, 50.1y) with clinically confirmed HSP diagnosis (mean duration, 20.9y) participated in the study.
Interventions
Active and passive ROMs were measured with a plastic 360° goniometer. Spasticity was evaluated by using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS). The time it took a patient to walk 10m was recorded.
Main Outcome Measures
Measurements included testing of active and passive ROM as a marker for mobility, the MAS for spasticity, and time to complete a 10-m walk.
Results
A higher degree of spasticity in hip muscles was associated with lower values of active ROM and slower walking. Walking speed was negatively correlated to disease duration and participant age.
Conclusions
The present study provides analysis of the contributions of spasticity and ROM to walking speed in HSP, both factors negatively influence gait in persons with HSP.
bWest Tallinn Central Hospital, Centre for Neurological Diseases, Tallinn, Estonia
Correspondence to Mark Braschinsky, MD, Tartu University, Department of Neurology, 8 L. Puusepp St, Tartu, 51014, Estonia
Supported by the Estonian Science Foundation (grant no. ETF5680).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
ABSTRACT