The use of a portable muscle tone measurement device to measure the effects of botulinum toxin type a on elbow flexor spasticity

Chen J-JJ, Wu Y-N, Huang S-C, Lee H-M, Wang Y-L. The use of a portable muscle tone measurement device to measure the effects of botulinum toxin type A on elbow flexor spasticity. Objective To use a portable muscle tone assessment device to measure spasticity after a botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection. Design Before-after trial. Setting Hospital. Participants Ten chronic stroke patients with upper-limb spasticity. Intervention BTX-A was injected in the biceps brachii. Main Outcome Measures The biomechanic parameters, viscous component, and averaged viscosity derived from the acquired reactive resistance and angular displacements, as well as the reflex electromyographic threshold of biceps brachii, were used for spasticity evaluation. Results A statistically significant decrease in averaged viscosity and a significant increase in reflex electromyographic threshold ( P Conclusions Our portable design allows for the convenient use of the device for quantifying spasticity in clinics. All quantitative measurements suggest that BTX-A decreases spasticity within 2 weeks of injection. Our portable muscle tone measurement device may be useful for the clinical assessment of elbow flexor spasticity.