Validity and reliability of the assessment of hand flexors stiffness using a new electromechanical oscillatory device in people with stroke.

Hyper-resistance after a central nervous system injury has been largely referred to as spasticity, which is but one of its neural components. Assessment largely relies on clinical scales (Modified Ashworth scale - MAS and Modified Tardieu scale, MTS) which are unable to distinguish between the non-neural (tissue-related) and the neural (central nervous system-related) components. This study assessed criterion validity and reliability (reproducibility) of muscle stiffness measures, namely, maximum elastic stiffness (ELmax), viscous stiffness (VI), and path length (L-path) in the hand flexor muscles among people with stroke.