Quantitative Assessment of Proprioception Using Dynamometer in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Preliminary Study.
10.5535/arm.2017.41.2.218
- Author:
Won Kee CHANG
1
;
Yun Suk JUNG
;
Mi Kyoung OH
;
Keewon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. keewonkimm.d@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Spinal cord injuries;
Proprioception;
Walking
- MeSH:
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory;
Humans;
Knee;
Lower Extremity;
Proprioception*;
Spinal Cord Injuries*;
Spinal Cord*;
Walking
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2017;41(2):218-224
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of a knee proprioception evaluation using a dynamometer as a tool for evaluating proprioception of the lower extremities in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), and to explore its usefulness in predicting the ambulatory outcome. METHODS: A total of 14 SCI patients (10 tetraplegic, 4 paraplegic; all AIS D) were included in this study. The passive repositioning error (PRE) and active repositioning error (ARE) were measured with a dynamometer, along with tibial somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and abductor hallucis motor-evoked potential (MEP). Ambulatory capacity was assessed with the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI-II), both at the time of the proprioception test (WISCI_i) and at least 6 months after the test (WISCI_6mo). RESULTS: The PRE showed a negative correlation with WISCI_i (r=-0.440, p=0.034) and WISCI_6mo (r=-0.568, p=0.010). Linear multiple regression showed the type of injury, lower extremities motor score, MEP, and PRE accounted for 75.4% of the WISCI_6mo variance (p=0.080). CONCLUSION: Proprioception of the knee can be measured quantitatively with a dynamometer in patients with incomplete SCI, and PRE was related to the outcome of the ambulatory capacity. Along with the neurological and electrophysiological examinations, a proprioception test using a dynamometer may have supplementary value in predicting the ambulatory capacity in patients with incomplete SCI.
