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Orofacial fine motor control impairments in congenital spasticity

Evidence against hypertonusrelated performance deficits

From the Speech Motor (Control Laboratories, Waisman Center for Human Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.

Motor impairments in the line force control of lips, tongue, and jaw were measured in subjects with congenital spasticity. Because these orofacial motor systems are not uniformly endowed with muscle spindles and monosynaptic reflexes, quantification of these motor impairments addresses the question of whether stretch reflex hypertonus is a positive or negative sign. The results indicated that hyperactive muscle spindle-based monosynaptic reflexes are not a causal factor in these voluntary orofacial motor impairments. These data also indicated that motor impairments were disproportionately greater at finer levels of isometric force control. These fine control measures appear useful as a quantitative index of general voluntary motor deficit.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Abbs, Speech Motor Control Laboratories, 1500 Highland Avenue, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706.

This research was supported by NINCDS Program Project grant NS-13274 07and NICHD core support grant to the Waisman Center, 5-P30 HD 003352 14.

Accepted for publication May 10, 1983.

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