Electrophysiological evaluation of the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) in assessing poststroke wrist flexor spasticity

BACKGROUND: Spasticity is a common impairment following upper motor neuron lesions such as stroke. The appropriate measurement of muscle spasticity using validated tools to evaluate the outcome of therapies is important in clinical and research settings. OBJECTIVE: To determine the concurrent criterion-related validity of the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) in assessing poststroke wrist flexor muscle spasticity based on its correlation with H-reflex tests. METHODS: A total of 20 adult patients poststroke underwent clinical and electrophysiological assessment of wrist flexor muscle spasticity on the affected side. The primary outcome measures were: R2-R1 of the MTS; and the H-reflex indices of H_max/M_max ratio and H _slp/M_slp ratio. The H_slp and the latency of H-reflex were also measured. RESULTS: Correlations tests did not reveal significant associations between the clinical and H-reflex tests. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the MTS may not be a valid tool to evaluate muscle spasticity in this sample of patients after stroke.