Journal of Neuroscience Methods,
2001, 108:1:25 - 37
Lutz-Peter Erasmus, Stefania Sarno,
Holger Albrecht, Martina Schwecht, Walter Pöllmann and Nicolaus König
Abstract
Aim of our study was to find a specific
measure for the intensity of upper limb tremor and other ataxic symptoms
in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, and to establish standard values and
test quality parameters.
Three hundred and forty-two consecutive
patients with different symptoms in the upper limbs (upper motor neuron
symptoms, cerebellar upper limb ataxia, and/or sensory deficits in the
upper limbs) and 140 healthy controls took part in the study.
All patients and controls had to
trace over a 25 cm high figure '8' on a graphic tablet, to tap with the
stylus on the tablet and to perform the nine-hole-peg test (9HPT).
Patients were additionally examined
using clinical standard scales to classify motor dysfunctions of the upper
limbs.
One hundred and eighty-nine patients
and 27 controls were tested twice to investigate the test reliability.
Kinematic analysis of the tablet data was performed by kernel estimators,
oscillatory activity by spectral analysis.
Total power in the 2–10 Hz band was
very specific for ataxia versus other motor symptoms.
Tapping and 9HPT could well distinguish
patients from controls, and patients with predominant motor neuron or cerebellar
symptoms from patients with predominant sensory dysfunctions.
Mean drawing error did not differ
between motor and sensory dysfunctions.
The test–retest reliability was similarly
high for both spectral analysis and 9HPT.
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