Dysmetria is one of the major findings in ataxic patients. To evaluate the dysmetria, clinical neurological examination or hand dextrity tests have been used. But we cannot get the quantitified data of dysmetria through these tests.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate dysmetria in ataxic patients quantitatively
The subjects of this study were 9 ataxic patients and 10 neurologically healthy volunteers as control.
Drawing a straight line with the stylus on the digitizer, the course of the stylus was visualized on the PC monitor. Drawing time, deviated area, total numbers of turn, turn/sec, amplitude/turn, maximum deviation, and time to maximum deviation
were
calculated by PC.
Deviated area, amplitude/turn, maximum deviation, total numbers of turn, and turn/sec were highly correlated with the severity of dysmetria.
In conclusion, using a digitizer, it was possible to identify the severity of dysmetria quantitatively. Therefore, this test could be a useful tool in evaluating dysmetria and coordinated movements of upper extremities.
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