A Validity Study of the Modified Tardieu Scale in Measruing Poststroke Knee Extensor Spasticity

The Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) is a clinical scale for measuring the degree of muscle spasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the MTS in measuring poststroke knee extensor spasticity. This was a cross-sectional study performed in 2012 at a university clinic of neurological physiotherapy in Tehran, Iran, with repeated measurements. In the present study, 15 poststroke patients with a mean age of 53.8 ± 14.0 years and mean time since stroke of 40.0 ± 32.2 months participated. The knee extensor muscle spasticity was assessed using the MTS to calculate the R2-R1 as the main clinical measure. To calculate the work, an isokinetic dynamometer was used to quantify torque-angle data during passive movements at 4 speeds (60°, 120°, 180°, and 240°/sec). The linear regression was used to calculate the slope for the work-velocity data [Joule/(degree/sec)]. There were significant differences between works done by the dynamometer at four speeds; as the speed increased the work decreased (P < 0.01). Mean (standard deviation) slope for the work-velocity data was -0.76 (0.78). There was no significant correlation between the dynamic component of MTS (R2-R1) and slope for the work-velocity data. The results indicate that the MTS might not be a valid measure for assessing knee extensor muscle spasticity in this sample of patients after stroke.