'Causal relation between spasticity, strength, gross motor function, and functional outcome in children with cerebral palsy: a path analysis'.

摘要

SIR-In their recent article Kim and Park fail to deal with the entirety of Dr Lance's classical definition of spasticity.2 His carefully drafted statement documented the consensus of the 1979 symposium of 44 actively engaged neurological investigators (including me): 'Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes ('muscle tone') with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex, as one component of the upper motor neuron syndrome. This did not preclude discussion of other features of the upper motor neuron syndrome resulting from release of flexor reflexes, such as flexor spasms, or the negative symptoms such as the pattern of weakness and loss of dexterity earned by withdrawal of the influence of descending motor pathways.