Evaluation of range of motion and strength of upper limbs in tetraplegic patients to perform self-catheterization

Introduction/Background A functional hand is fundamental for a patient affected by quadriplegia in order to get as independent as possible. We evaluated the ROM and Strength of upper limbs in patients affected by tetraplegia, with stabilized lesion, able to regularly practice intermittent self-catheterization. Material and method We used the device Pablo ® Tyromotion, an electronic dynamometer and accelerometer; it allows to collect information about strength and ROM of the body districts analysed. We tested 25 patients (23 males, 2 females); average age 37.5 y (min 14–max 66); average years passed by the injury 9.96 (min 1–max 36); different lesional levels (C0 n. 1, C2 n. 1, C4 n. 2, C5 n. 13, C6 n. 6, C7 n. 2); different injury etiologies (C0 arteriovenous malformation, C2 spinal cord empyema, others traumatic). Inclusion Criteria: cervical SCI; traumatic and non-traumatic etiology; stabilized lesion; intermittent self-catheterization. Results We compared the average values of strength for these movements: Terminal pinch I–II fingers (dx 0.708; sx 0.844 Kg); Termino-lateral pinch I–II fingers (dx 1.14; sx 1.276 Kg); Interdigital pinch II–III fingers (dx 1.4; sx 1.4 Kg). Conclusion We found out how districts and movements not routinely tested, used or trained can preserve a greater potential for what concerns the Spared Function than other mostly known and studied movements. These data should become a strong input to design devices, for rehabilitation and everyday life, based on a new concept of pinch and function of the hand underlining the importance of clinical experience in the projecting phase of devices.