Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
100 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2022-04-15
2025-06-15
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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The commonly used tools for the assessment of spasticity are subjective clinical scales, including the Ashworth Scale (AS), Modified AS (MAS), Tardieu Scale (TS), Modified TS (MTS), and Tone Assessment Scale (TAS). Most of these scales have limitations regarding reliability and inter-examiner reproducibility. Many uncontrollable or unstable factors can affect the measurement results.
On the other hand, spasticity can be assessed objectively using isokinetic dynamometers or electromyography (EMG). However, EMG data can be affected by various factors (electrode placement, muscle atrophy, skin resistance, etc.). These quantitative and objective methods require technological skills and equipment and can only assess a limited number of muscles. Ultrasonography has been used to determine muscle size (muscle length and volume), architectural features (thickness, cross-sectional area, fascicle length, and pennation angle), as well as content features (e.g., stiffness) of spastic muscles in patients with central nervous system injuries. In clinical practice, muscle atrophy-loss of contractile tissue-is usually measured by cross-sectional area or thickness (reflecting cross-sectional area) in spastic patients. Ultrasound is also useful for measuring fascicle length and pennation angle, architectural features that determine the muscle movement and force generated along the line of tension, respectively. The fascicle length of the affected muscle on the hemiparetic side of stroke patients was found to be shorter than in nonparetic and healthy controls. In addition to architectural changes, excessive stiffness felt during movement of the segments around the joint causes movement impairment in patients with spasticity. Ultrasound elastography has recently enabled physicians to accurately measure passive muscle stiffness. It has been found that spastic muscle stiffness increases in patients with central nervous system injuries.
Muscles frequently evaluated by ultrasound elastography are biceps and gastrocnemius muscles, which are reported to be highly affected by spasticity. However, the lack of a standard measurement protocol and the variability of elasticity in patients need to be addressed. Since there are few studies investigating the application of ultrasound elastography techniques for measuring muscle stiffness, future studies are needed to understand the mechanical properties of the muscles and to obtain a standard and reliable protocol. In the literature, only one study has evaluated forearm muscles elastographically and found that the elasticity ratio was lower on the hemiplegic side compared to the non-hemiplegic side.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the architectural changes and muscle stiffness of the upper and lower extremity muscles in our hemiplegic patients ultrasonographically and to investigate their relationship with clinical assessment scales.
Conditions
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Study Design
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CASE_ONLY
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Interventions
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Ultrasonography of muscles
The biceps brachii, flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus muscles and gastrocnemius muscles of the participants on the affected and unaffected sides will be evaluated ultrasonographically. Two researchers (with at least 5 years of experience in ultrasound imaging) blinded to the clinical evaluations of the patients and previous measurements will evaluate the same patients at two different times to test interobserver reproducibility. Muscle thickness, fascicle length and pennation angle will be recorded on B-mode imaging. In addition, elastographic evaluation will be performed on the same muscles and strain rate will be recorded.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Unilateral hemiplegia
* At least 3 months since cerebrovascular accident
Exclusion Criteria
* Botulinum toxin injection in the last 6 months
40 Years
70 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Sevda Adar
Ass. Prof.
Locations
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Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Health Application and Research Center Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic
Afyonkarahisar, , Turkey (Türkiye)
Countries
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Other Identifiers
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SAUSG
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id