Megan Banky, Ross A. Clark , Benjamin F. Mentiplay, John H. Olver, Gavin Williams
Physiotherapy Department, Epworth Healthcare, Australia. E-mail: megan.banky@epworth.org.au
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2777

Objective: Spasticity assessment is often used to guide treatment decision-making. Assessment tool limitations may influence the conflicting evidence surrounding the relationship between spasticity and walking. This study investigated whether testing speeds and joint angles during a Modified Tardieu assessment matched lower-limb angular velocity and range of motion during walking.
Design: Observational study.
Subjects: Thirty-five adults with a neurological condition and 34 assessors.
Methods: The Modified Tardieu Scale was completed. Joint angles and peak testing speed during V3 (fast) trials were compared with these variables during walking in healthy people, at 0. 40–0. 59, 0. 60–0. 79 and 1. 40–1. 60 m/s. The proportion of trials in which the testing speed, start angle, and angle of muscle reaction matched the relevant joint angles and angular velocity during walking were analysed.
Results: The Modified Tardieu Scale was completed faster than the angular velocities seen during walking in 88. 7% (0. 40–0. 59 m/s), 78. 9% (0. 60–0. 79 m/s) and 56. 2% (1. 40–1. 60 m/s) of trials. When compared with the normative dataset, 4. 2%, 9. 5% and 13. 7% of the trials met all criteria for each respective walking speed.
Conclusion: When applied according to the standardized procedure and compared with joint angular velocity during walking, clinicians performed the Modified Tardieu Scale too quickly.

Spasticity is an abnormal increase in muscle tightness, which is common following neurological injury. Spasticity has been shown to have a profound impact on an individual’s independence and quality of life. The main goal reported by patients in this population is to return to independent, normal walking. Yet, despite this there is a lack of consensus regarding the relationship between spasticity and walking outcomes. This may be due to a disconnect between clinical, bed-based assessment methods and how spasticity manifests during walking. This study aimed to establish how well a routine clinical assessment (the Modified Tardieu Scale) matched the speed and range of joint movement during walking. The findings suggest that, currently, clinicians performed the assessment too fast, which may lead to “false-positive” assessment findings. This may result in the identification and treatment of spasticity that is not impacting walking, leading to sub-optimal patient outcomes and significant healthcare wastage.