Sinusoidal oscillation of the ankle as a means of evaluating the spastic patient.

Abstract

Sinusoidally modulated torque was applied to rotate the ankle joint of normal subjects and clinically spastic patients. Measurements were made of the effective joint compliance and of the evoked EMG activity. These procedures provide a well-quantified and reliable measure of muscle tone and hyperreflexia which is well correlated with the patient's clinical status.