Characterisation of the patellar tendon reflex in cerebral palsy children using motion analysis
Abstract
Background The patellar tendon reflex (PTR) is an important spinal reflex and an important diagnostic tool assessing neurological disturbances. Reflexes are conveniently assessed but quantifying the response can be subjective. Motion analysis is commonly used to assess gait kinematics in a variety of populations. It can be used to objectively assess the PTR with the advantage that standard technique and hammer can be used without the need for bulky apparatus or fixing the subject position.Aim To compare the PTR in 15 cerebral palsy (CP) children with age and height matched controls.Methods EMG reflex latency in the rectus femoris was assessed using a Noraxon 2400T unit. Knee movement latency, knee angular displacement and peak angular velocity were captured using the CODA mpx 30 system.Results EMG reflex latency was significantly reduced in CP compared to control limbs (13.11 versus 18.11 ms; p < 0.01) confirming a 'brisk' response in this population. The kinematic data found that while knee angular displacement was significantly reduced in CP (12.82° versus 20.06°; p < 0.01) there was no significant difference in movement latency or peak angular velocity compared to controls.Conclusions Subjective evaluation of the PTR relies mostly on change in knee angle. Using motion analysis we have confirmed a difference in this variable in CP compared to controls. We have also shown reduced reflex latency associated with a brisk reflex. Knee movement latency and peak angular velocity did not differentiate CP from normal. Further examination of the knee angular response of the PTR is warranted in CP.
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A motion capture system was used to demonstrate the knee angle increase dependent on the tapping force in healthy participants and its usability for cerebral palsy patients.
“A motion capture system was also used to demonstrate the knee angle increase dependent on the tapping force in healthy participants15,16 and its usability for cerebral palsy patients31.”
From Quantification of patellar tendon reflex using portable mechanomyography and electromyography devices (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
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“Measurements of angular velocity and acceleration, reflex latency, and movement latency have also been used to quantify PTR responses [7, 10].”
Method
- Authors
- O’Sullivan, R., Kiernan, D., Walsh, M., O’Brien, T., & Elhassan, Y.
- Affiliations
- Central Remedial Clinic (IE)
- Corresponding author
- O’Sullivan, Rory
- Venue
- Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -)
- Published
- 2015-10-15
- Volume
- 185
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 813-817
- ISSN
- 0021-1265 (ISSN-L)
- 1863-4362
- OpenAlex
- W2165231407
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Keywords
- patellar reflex, cerebral palsy, children, reflex latency, peak angular velocity, spinal reflexes
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Biomechanical Phenomena, Cerebral Palsy, Child, Electromyography, Female, Humans, Knee Joint, Male, Patella, Reflex, Stretch, Case-Control Studies, Range of Motion, Articular, Patellar Ligament
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