Final Flashcards
Normal Muscle Tone
Resistance of muscle to passive elongation or stretching
Normal muscle tone is:
High enough to resist gravity
Low enough to allow voluntary movement relies on normal functioning
Normal Muscle tone relies on normal function of
Cerebral cortex Cerebellum Basal Ganglia Midbrain Spinal Cord Normal Stretch reflex Musculoskeletal system
Normal muscle tone allows for
- Effective stabilization of proximal joints
- Ability to move against gravity/resistance
- Ability to maintain the position
- Balance tone between agonists and antagonists
- Ease of shift from mobility to stability and reverse
- Ability to use muscles in groups or individually
- Slight resistance to passive movements
Flaccidity vs Hypotonus
Flaccidity: Tone: None Reflex: No stretch reflex Voluntary Movement: None Reason: spinal or cerebral chock or PNS damage Notes: ROM >normal Hypotonus Tone: Decreased Reflex: Slight increase in tone when testing stretch reflex Voluntary Movement: Minimal Reason: stroke Notes: ROM>Normal
Hypertonus vs Spasticity vs Rigidity
Hypertonus:
Tone: Increased
Reflex: Hyperactive
Voluntary Movement: Movement in synergies
Reason: UMNL such lesion to premotor cortex, basal ganglia or descending pathways
Notes:
ROM
Considerations in tone assessments
- Tone might fluctuate in response to intrinsic (infections) or extrinsic factors (room temp, noise, anxiety)
- It is preferable to test the person the same time of the day
- Testing position for upper extremity: sitting, symmetrical head in midline
- The room should be not too cold and not too warm
- The therapists hand should not be cold
- Do not hold the person’s hand too firmly
Testing muscle tone:
Holding the limb:
Grasp the limb proximal and distal to the joint, hold the limb on the lateral sides to avoid giving tactile stimulation to the muscle belly
Testing muscle tone:
hypertonic
- Move the joint through its ROM slowly
- Note the presence and location of pain
Label as:
0 flaccid - no active movement and limb feels heavy
Testing muscle tone:
Spasticity:
Move the joint through its ROM rapidly
Label as: mild, moderate or severe
Testing muscle tone:
Rigidity and hypertonia
Move the joint through its ROM slowly
label as: mild, moderate or severe
Ashworth Scale
0 no increase in muscle tone
1 slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch and release or by minimal resistance at the end of the range of motion when the affected part(s) is moved in flexion or extension
1+ slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch, followed by minimal resistance throughout the remainder (less than half) of the ROM
2 More marked increase in muscle tone though most of the ROM, but affected part(s) easily moved
3 Considerable increase in muscle tone, passive movement difficult
4. Affected part(s) rigid in flexion or extension
(not very reliable)
Other Considerations in Testing Muscle Tone
5 points
- Heterotopic ossification (formation of new bone is soft tissue or joints) as a result of ABI and SCI might have caused ROM limitation
- Determine how much of the active movement is because of synergy
- Identify in which direction of movement hypertonicity occurs and how it affects function
- MMT is not valid for people who have moderate to severe hypertonicity
- Do sensation test (two-point discrimination, kinesthesia, proprioception, pain and light touch)
Benefits of Spasticity
- aiding with standing and transfers
- maintaining muscle bulk
- preventing deep vein thrombosis, osteoporosis and edema
Intervention is necessary if spasticity
- interferes with function: ADL, gait, sleep, wheelchair positioning
- Causes deep pain and limits hygiene
- Causes contracture and bed sore
What are secondary problems of spasticity
- Deformity especially distal parts of limb
- Impaired ability to manage basic activities
- Loss of reciprocal arm swing when walking
- Risk of fall
- Pain syndrome especially in glenohumeral joint
Pain syndrome especially in glenohumeral joint
Might cause limitation in
Rolling in bed
Transferring
Putting on shirt or blouse
Bending to reach for the feet to put on shoes and socks
-In long term…. causes depression
Spasticity Management Principles
- Maintain soft tissue length
- Prevent Pain
- Guide appropriate use of available motor control
- Avoid using excessive effort during movements
- Encourage slow and controlled movements
- Teach specific functional synergies during tasks
- Avoid use of repetitive compensatory movement patterns
OT interventions for managing Spasticity
1.Weight bearing on the limb
2. USe of the limb in activities as much as possible
3. Positioning in a pattern opposite to the synergy pattern
4. Use of hand in bilateral activities
5. Teach upper limb ROM to your Client
6, Teach your client to apply 60 sec stretches
7. Serial casting if the contracture was present for less than 6 months
Pharmacological agents
Oral medications
–> beware of medications side effects such as visual hallucinations, sedation and hypotension
–>For diazepam and baclofen: sudden discontinuation may cause seizures
Short term nerve blockers
Long term nerve blocks
–> Nerve block provide time for therapists to strength the antagonist and improve function
Intrathecal Baclofen pump:
Enters baclofen in spinal level, used for severe spasticity associated with spinal cord injury and MS
Physical Agents
Cold therapy
Superficial heat (do not use if there is acute injury in the limb, do not use if there is oedema)
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (physiotherapy)
OT interventions to manage rigidity Inhibition
- Heat
- Massage
- Stretching
- ROM exercise
OT interventions to manage rigidity ADL
- When rigidity increases a return person to wheelchair or a reclining chair as sitting decreases rigidity
- Before ADl, ask the person to do the followings:
- relaxation
- Rocking back and forth before standing
- Stretching
OT interventions to manage flaccidity
- Weight bearing
- Bed positioning
- Passive ROM
OT interventions to manage flaccidity ADL
- Position the limb:
- Position in bed
- Position in Chair
eg. when eating, place arm on the dining table - Educate person and family on proper positioning at all times
Human Gait Cycle: Stance
-need to generate both horizontal forces against support surfaces and vertical forces (to support body mass against gravity
-initial contact
-loading response
-midstance
-terminal stance
-pre-swing
(62%)
Human gait cycle: Swing phase
advancement of swing phase and repositioning the limb in preparation for weight acceptance -initial swing -midswing -terminal swing (38%)
Step Length
distance from one foot strike of the other foot
Stride Length
distance covered from one heel strike to the next of the same foot
Developmental Sequence for Walking
- Initial Stage
- Elementary Stage
- Mature stage
inital Stage
difficulty maintaining upright posture unpredictable loss of balance ridgid, halting leg action short steps flat-footed contact toes turn outward wide base of support flexed knee at contact followed by quick leg extension
Elementary Stage
Gradual smoothing of pattern step length increased Heel-toe contact Arms down to sides with limited swing Base of support within the lateral dimensions of trunk Out-toeing reduced or eliminated Increased pelvic tilt
Mature stage
Reflexive arm swing
narrow base of support
relaxed, elongated gait
Definite heel-toe contact
Locomotion in older adults: Temporal And distance Factors:
-Decreased in walking velocity, step length and step rate
Locomotion in older adults: Kinematic Analysis
- changing s stepping patterns and posture (COG)
- Guarded walk
- Decreased dynamic stability during stance
Locomotion in older adults: Changes in muscle activation patterns
Increased co-activation (increase stiffness)
Locomotion in older adults: Kinetic Changes
- Decreased power generation at push-off
- Decreased power absorption at heel strike
Locomotion in older adults: Reduced Reactive and Proactive Adaption
slips and trips
Locomotion in older adults: Pathology in Gati Changes
- Cognitive Factors: limitations with walking while performing another task requiring more attentional resources, limitations with information processing, fear of falling, decreased memory, anxiety, depression)
- Sensory Impairments
- Muscle Weakness
Effect of motor Impairments on Gait
Neuromuscular Impairments
Weakness/Paresis
-Abnormal Tone
-Difficulties with Coordination
Effects of sensory Impairments on Gait: Somatosensory Deficits:
Result in gait ataxia
Effects of sensory Impairments on Gait: Visual Deficits
- Used to regulate gait on local (step-by-step) and global level (routine-finding)
- Obstacle avoidance
Effects of sensory Impairments on Gait: Vestibular Deficits
the vestibular system plays a role in the coordination of motor responses (stabilizing eyes; maintaining postural stability)
Effects of Cognitive and Perceptual Impairments on Gait: Body Scheme Disorders
Trunk lean, inappropriate foot placement, difficulty controlling COM
Effects of Cognitive and Perceptual Impairments on Gait: Spatial Relation Disorders
- Involved in navigational strategies
- Topographic disorientation
Effects of Cognitive and Perceptual Impairments on Gait: Cognitive Impairments
- Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
- Effects of attentional Demands
Weakness/Paresis
Neural and non-neural components of force production
Inability of muscles to generate motion and control motion
-Dorsi-Flexor Weakness
-Quadriceps Weakness
-Hip Extensor Weakness
-Hip-Abductor Weakness (Trendelenburg Gait)
-Hip Flexor Weakness
Compensatory strategies used to advance the swing leg a as a result of inadequate hip flexion
a. Activation of abdominal muscle in conjunction with posterior tip of the pelvis
b. Circumduction
c. Contralateral Vaulting (because of extra length of the foot because of foot drop)
d. Leaning the trunk laterally
How is a typical hemiplegic gait
Wait for lecture
Gait ataxia
- Wide based
- No arm swings
- Uneven step length
- Tendency to fall
- If one sided cerebellar lesion: tendency to fall to one side
OT Interventions
- Home modifications
- Retraining dynamic gait skills
- Prescription of assistive devices and education for use of assistive devices
What activities can be used to help with retaining dynamic gait skills? How can they be graded?
Wait till lecture
Mobility other than gait
Transfers Sitting to Standing Supine to Sit Raising from bed Rolling
Clothing
Cloths for people with low trunk control
-Shoes-easy to put on
Three factors that contribute to upper extremity control
- Individual Task
- Type of Task
- Environment
Neuromuscular components related to upper extremity function
- Musculoskeletal components
- Neural Components
- -> muscle tone
- ->motor reflexes/reactions
- -> Control of voluntary movements
Neural Components
a. Muscle tone
b. Motor reflexes/reactions
- -> existence of normal reflexes/reactions
- -> absence of abnormal reflexes
c. Control of voluntary movements
- -> eye-hand coordination
- -> Bilateral integration: Using both arms in an activity
- ->Crossing midline: crossing the midline when doing activities
- ->Fine motor movement: when small muscles in the hand, fingers and thumb are being used for precise movements
- ->Gross motor control: when larger muscles are being used such as reaching for an object
Systems that contribute to reach and Grasp :Sensory Systems
Visual pathways related to visual regard, reach and grasp:
Dorsal stream pathway: going from the visual cortex
–> provides action-relevant information about object position, structure and orientation
Ventral Stream pathway: going from visual cortex to the temporal lobe
–>provide our conscious visual perceptual experience
Systems that contribute to reach and Grasp: Shoulder Complex
Glenohumeral Joint
Scapulo-humeral rhythm
Acromio-clavicular (AC joint)
Functional Shoulder ROM
100 flexion
90 abduction
30 external rotation
70 internal rotation
Forearm and Wrist
- Supination
- Pronation
Wrist flexion/extension
Hand:
Finger and thumb flexion/extension
Abduction/adduction
Grasping
- Vary according to location, size and shape of object to be grasped
- Power or Precision grips
- Intended activity
- Involves the position of the thumb and that of the fingers
- Two requirements for grasp
- -> Hand must adapted to the shape and size and use
- -> Finger movement must be timed appropriately in relation to transport and close on the object
Alignment
- Trunk Control
- Midline orientation
- Head control
- Limb function and control on the trunk
- Facial/oral motor function
Shoulder Subluxation
- Occurs in 50% of stroke patients because of impaired glenohumeral rhythm
- Caused by weight of the arm pulling the humerus when the supraspinatus and deltoid muscles are weak
- Can be identifiable by palpation
- Causes pain if handled inappropriately
- Causes limited ROM and might turn into Shoulder Hand Syndrome
Evaluation - Subluxation Grading
0-normal 1 - V-Shaped widening 2- moderate subluxation 3 - Advanced subluxation 4 - Dislocation `
Pain syndrome especially in glenohumeral joint
Might cause limitation in
- Rolling in bed
- Transfering
- Putting on shirt or blouse
- Bending to reach for the feet to put on shoes and sock
- In long term…. depression
Glenohumeral Joint -Key Handling Points.
- Manually reduce subluxation before elevating arm
- Medial rotation of the arm must accompany flexion
- Lateral rotation of the arm must accompany abduction
Make sure client does not do passive or active assistive ROM for shoulder above flex 90 if there is subluxation of shoulder
Positioning for arm when sitting or standing
Bobath shoulder support
Bobath Axial roll
Cuff Type Arm sling
Trough Arm Sling
Can Slings Prevent Shoulder Subluxation
can be helpful but do not prevent it
Sling advantages
- Protection during transfers
- easier for therapist to control trunk
- Prevent Soft tissue stretching
- Decrease pressure over neuromuscular bundle
- Support weight of arm
- Prevent oedema
Sling Disadvantages
- May contribute to neglect
- May contribute to learn non-use
- May increase flexion in limb
- Passive position/prevent hand function/block sensory input/block hand swing in walking
- Increased risk of shoulder hand syndrome/shortened internal rotators
- Does not reduce subluxation
Assessments: (upper limb problem)
- Observation: involving them in a functional activity
functional performance analysis - Interview
- Assessment tools
Assessment tools
- Motor assessment scale (MAS-36)
- Jebsen Test of Hand function
- Nine-hole peg test
Other considerations (assessments for upper limb)
Cognition and Perception -Attention and neglect -Problem solving and Apraxia Musculoskeletal problems -Sensory Problems -Weakness -Edema and pain
OT interventions: Functional Activity
Functional activity vs exercise ?
Task Specific training
- Learning sequencing complex functional tasks
- Using virtual environment
- Dominance training
- Training the less affected hand
- Training handwriting
Increased frequency of use
- CIMT
- Bimanual training
Treatment Strategies: Positioning on affected side
Head/neck: neutral and symmetrical
affected upper limb: protracted forward with elbow extended, hand supinated, wrist neutral, fingers extended, and thumb abducted
Trunk: straight and aligned
Affected lower limb: Knee Flexed
Unaffected lower limb: knee flexed and supported by pillow
Treatment Strategies: Passive ROM exercises performed by therapist/patient
- Shoulder joint
- no movement beyond 90 degrees during abduction and flexion
- External and internal rotation while keeping shoulder, adducted
- Pain complains –> stop –> if needed, next session, do not go beyond that point - Elbow joint, forearm (pronation/supination), wrist joint
- no restriction to PROM
- Pain complains –> stop–> if needed, next session, do not go beyond that point - Meteacarpophalengeal (MCP) joint and interphalangeal (IP) joint of finger and thumb
- MP supported to move PIP
- PIP supported to move DIP
- Move 1 joint at a time
- Support wrist in neutral for fingers flexion and extension
Treatment Strategies: Encourage Trunk Rotation
- Often a block-like pattern, upper and lower trunk is not disassociated
- Find activities to facilitate trunk rotation
- Proper rotation also opens the pectoral muscles -prevents kyphosis
- Without Trunk stabilization-unable to use the extremities properly
Benefits of Trunk Rotation
- Increased sensory input
- Improved weight bearing
- Improved awareness
- Training compensation for visual field deficits
- Varying height of task-incorporates shoulder and pelvic girdle mobilization
Treatment Strategies: Increase Muscle Power
Task parameters that can be manipulated to increase strength:
- Gravity
- Weight of objects
- Amount of external support (use of table to slide hand or moving hand against gravity)
- External resistance such as using weight or resistance by therapist
Treatment Strategies: Constraint-induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
Hemiparesis can lead to learned non-use
-Based on a theory of brain plasticity and cortical reorganization
Two main Elements:
1. Repetitive, task oriented training of the affected UE; 6 hours or more per day
2. Use of the unaffected UE is restrained with mitten or sling for 90% of walking hours
-Goal: to counteract the effects of learned non-use
Modified CIMT in Practice
what modified CIMT looks like at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga
-2 modified CIMT sessions/week for 0.5h-1 h
–> + at home modified CIMT program for some clients
-Circuit-Training format, where each activity is performed for 8-10 minutes
-As many repetitions of task/activity as possible in time allotted
–> Emphasis on repetition of movements, not the quality of the movement
-Use of mitt on the unaffected hand is dependent on client
Modified CIMT activities: washing dishes; bean toss; folding laundry; clean a window or wall; flip over playing cards; place clothes pegs on a rack; open/close jars; wringing out wash cloths; stacking cones; screwing and unscrewing pegs
-Some activities are more functional than others
Treatment Strategies: Imagery
Cognitive rehearsal of motor act or task
Provides opportunity promote repetitive movements
Audiotape (10 to 20 min):
–> relaxation
–> mental practice of tasks such as drinking from a cup or writing
Treatment Strategies: Mirror therapy
Person sits beside a mirror
The person can see only the non-involved hand in the mirror
Ask the person to move his/her fingers and wrist of the unaffected hand
Ask the person to use the affected hand the same way
Treatment Strategies: Splinting for hemiplegia
- Static splints for preventing deformity
- dynamic splints
Treatment Strategies: (list of 9) upper limb
- Positioning
- Passive ROM by therapist/patient
- Encourage Reaching
- Encourage trunk rotation
- Increase muscle power
- CIMT
- Imagery or mental practice
- Mirror therapy
- Preventing shoulder subluxation
Treatment Strategies: Encourage Reaching
While seated, reach down and let the arm dangle
reach to the sides and behind
Coordination
Ability to produce accurate, controlled movement, Movement with coordination - is smooth -has rhythm -Has appropriate speed -muscles involved: -->Minimum # of muscles used -->Appropriate muscle tension -->Postural tone -->Equilibrium
Part of the brain involved with Coordination
Cerebellum and extrapyramidal system
Incoordination
Error in rate, rhythm, range, direction and/or force of movement
Types of incoordination: Cerebellar Disorders
- Ataxia
- Adiadochokinesia
- Dysmetria
- Rebound phenomenon of Holmes
- Nystagmus
- Dysarthria
- Intention Tremor (resting and essential familial tremor)
Types of incoordination: Extrapyramidal disorders
- Chorea
- Athetoid movements
- Dystonia
- Ballism
- Tremor
i. Resting tremor
ii. Essential Tremor
Ataxia
Cerebellar dysfunction Poor coordination of agonists and antagonists Delayed initiation of movement responses Errors: -Range -Force -Rate -Regularity Disappear during sleep
Gait Ataxia
- Wide base
- No arm swings
- Uneven step length
- Tendency to fall
- If one sided cerebellar lesion: tendency to fall to one side
Adiadochoinesis
inability to perform rapid alternating movements
flipping hands test
Dysmetria
Inability to estimate ROM necessary to reach the target movement (finger to nose test) Types: -Hypermetria -Hypometria
Rebound Phenomenon:
inability to stop a motion quickly to avoid striking something
bend elbow at 90 degrees…. put resistance…. let go quickly …..will not be able to stop the movement
Nystagmus
involuntary movements in the eyeball
Types:
- Up and down direction
- Back and forth directions
- Rotating
Dysarthria
Explosive or slurred speech (similar to people that are drunk or talking like a robot)
Chorea
irregular, purposeless, involuntary, quick, jerky, and dysrhythmic movements even during sleep
Related conditions: tardive dyskinesia and Huntington’s (Autosomal mutation)
Athetoid movements:
Continuous, slow, wormlike arrhythmic movements especially in distal not seen during sleep
Related conditions: Wilson’s disease (Accumulation of copper in tissues) and cerebral anoxia