Article

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inter-rater reliability of the Modified
Tardieu Scale (MTS) in the measurement of elbow flexor muscle spasticity in
patients with adult hemiplegia. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional study to
examine the agreement between two raters on elbow flexor muscle spasticity using
Modified Tardieu Scale. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. METHODS AND PROCEDURES:
Thirty patients (21 men, nine women) with an age range of 21-79 years (mean =
54.9; SD = 15.7) were tested. Two inexperienced raters assessed the elbow flexor
muscle spasticity in the affected side during the same session. The order of
assessments by the two raters was randomized. The main outcome measure was
dynamic component of spasticity (R2-R1). Reliability was also calculated for MTS
scores, angle of muscle reaction (R1), and passive range of motion (R2). MAIN
OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The ICC for R2-R1 was 0.72. The ICC for MTS scores, R1 and
R2 were 0.74, 0.74 and 0.56, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Modified Tardieu
Scale did not provide acceptable high inter-rater reliability in the measurement
of muscle spasticity in patients with hemiplegia when used by raters of limited
experience.

Langue : ANGLAIS