Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40283090›Full record

ReviewLife (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Applicability of the Instrumented Pendulum Test for Assessing Limb Viscoelastic Properties in Neurological and Internal Diseases: A Narrative Review.

Maria Stella Valle, Matteo Cioni, Cristina Russo, Lucia Malaguarnera, Antonino Casabona

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Life (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Maria Stella ValleLaboratory of Neuro-Biomechanics, Section of Physiology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9728-3542
Matteo CioniLaboratory of Neuro-Biomechanics, Section of Physiology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Cristina RussoSection of Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6709-4537
Lucia MalaguarneraSection of Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5171-7963
Antonino CasabonaLaboratory of Neuro-Biomechanics, Section of Physiology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0180-4695

Funding

University of Catania "Fondi di Ateneo 2020-2022, linea Open Access"
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe pendulum test was first introduced by Wartenberg as a clinical tool for neurological examination in patients with hypertonia. It was later instrumented to measure the kinematic parameters of gravity-imposed knee movements in patients with spasticity. More recently, the instrumented pendulum test has enabled the quantification of stiffness, viscosity, and damping in both the lower and upper limbs across various neurological and internal diseases.

objectiveTo highlight the utility of the instrumented pendulum test as a valuable tool for the quantification of stiffness, viscosity, and damping of knee and elbow joints within a clinical setting.

designNarrative review.

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, focusing on the terms "pendulum test" combined with "viscosity", "stiffness", and "damping".

resultsThe instrumented pendulum test effectively quantifies stiffness, viscosity, and damping of the knee and elbow across various conditions, including rheumatic diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertonia, and hypotonia. Studies have also demonstrated correlations between these non-neural parameters and factors such as age and disease severity.

conclusionsFindings suggest that the instrumented pendulum test could serve as a valuable tool in clinical decision-making for targeted pharmacological treatments, such as botulinum toxin-A or hyaluronidase injections for spasticity, as well as interventions for myofascial system disorders.

Indexed as

chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasedampingDown syndromehypertoniahypotoniainstrumented pendulum testrheumatoid arthritisspasticitystiffnessviscosity

Identifiers

PMID40283090
PMCPMC12028550

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.