Article

Our ability to sense movement is essential for motor control;
however, the impact of kinesthesia deficits on functional recovery is not well
monitored in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population.
One problem is the lack of
accurate and reliable tools to measure kinesthesia.
The purpose of
this study was to establish the validity and reliability of a quantitative
robotic assessment tool to measure lower limb kinesthesia in people with SCI.
METHODS: Seventeen individuals with an incomplete SCI and 17 age-matched controls
completed 2 robotic-based assessments of lower limb kinesthesia sense, separated
by at least 1 week. The Lokomat, a lower limb robotic exoskeleton, was used to
quantify the movement detection score bilaterally for the hip and knee joints.
Four passive movement speeds (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 deg/s) were applied in both
flexion and extension directions. Participants responded via pressing a joystick
button when movement was felt. RESULTS: The movement detection score was
significantly greater in people with SCI compared with the control group,
particularly at the slowest movement speed. The difference between groups was
more pronounced among those classified as ASIA (American Spinal Injury
Association) Impairment Scale B. Our measure showed high test-retest reliability
and good internal consistency for the hip and knee joints. CONCLUSIONS: Our
findings demonstrated that lower limb kinesthesia deficits are common in the SCI
population and highlighted the importance of valid and reliable tools to monitor
sensory function. Future studies need to examine changes in sensory function in
response to therapy.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS