Contractures and involuntary muscle overactivity in severe brain injury

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Marcus Pohl - , Klinik Bavaria Kreischa/Zscheckwitz (Autor:in)
  • Jan Mehrholz - , Klinik Bavaria Kreischa/Zscheckwitz (Autor:in)
  • Günter Rockstroh - , Klinik Bavaria Kreischa/Zscheckwitz (Autor:in)
  • Stefan Rückriem - , Klinik Bavaria Kreischa/Zscheckwitz (Autor:in)
  • Rainer Koch - , Institut für Medizinische Informatik und Biometrie (Autor:in)

Abstract

Primary objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of contractures with an increase or reduction of non-spastic muscle overactivity due to severe cerebral damage. Methods and procedures: Forty-five patients with tetraparesis after severe cerebral damage were investigated. Three groups were defined based on the presence of spasticity (revealed as resistance to passive stretch (= hypertonia)), and the presence of contracture of the relevant knee joint: Groups (17 patients with hypertonia without contracture), Groups+c (20 patients with hypertonia and contracture), and Groupc (eight patients without hypertonia and with contracture). In all groups spontaneous involuntary muscle activity was assessed continuously over a 12-hour period through isometric measurement of knee joint flexion torque. A mathematical algorithm differentiated an hourly muscle activity spectrum (PIh). The frequency of peaks (peaksh) from the activity spectrum was determined. Main outcomes and results: We revealed that Groups had higher PIh and more frequent peaksh compared with Groups+c and Groupc (p ≤ 0.05). Groupc had comparable PIh and peaksh compared with Groups+c (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: The presence of contractures was associated with lower involuntary muscle overactivity in terms of lower PIh and less frequent peaksh, indicating that contractures may be associated with reduced non-spastic positive features of the upper motor neurone syndrome in patients with severe brain damage.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)421-432
Seitenumfang12
FachzeitschriftBrain injury
Jahrgang21
Ausgabenummer4
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2007
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 17487640

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Muscle contracture, Muscle overactivity, Spasticity, Upper motor neurone syndrome