Hamstring spasticity assessment: does the hip flexion angle impact outcomes?

Abstract

Purpose: Hamstring spasticity is prevalent following neurological injury. The standardized assessment involves passive knee extension, in a position of 90° hip flexion. This creates passive insufficiency of the muscle and lacks ecological validity for walking, whereby the hip typically flexes to a maximum of 40° during swing phase, while the knee extends. This study compared assessment outcomes when completed in 40° and 90° hip flexion. Methods: The Modified Ashworth Scale and Modified Tardieu Scale, were performed on 35 adults with a neurological condition. Each participant was assessed by three assessors, resulting in 105 trials at 40° and 90°. Results: There was a significant increase in the proportion of trials rated as spastic using the Modified Ashworth Scale (p=.012, phi=.27), and Modified Tardieu Scale (p