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is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement. The muscles remain contracted and resist being , thus affecting movement, speech and .

Spasticity is generally caused by damage or disruption to the area of the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for controlling muscle and stretch reflexes. These disruptions can be due to an imbalance in the sent to the muscles, causing them to lock in place. Spasticity can be harmful to growing children as it can affect muscles and joints. People with brain injury, , or multiple sclerosis can have varying degrees of spasticity.

Symptoms of spasticity can vary from being mild stiffness or tightening of muscles to painful and uncontrollable . Pain or tightness in joints is also common in spasticity.

• Muscle stiffness, causing movements to be less precise and making certain tasks difficult to perform
• Muscle spasms, causing uncontrollable and often painful muscle contractions
• Involuntary crossing of the legs
• Muscle and joint deformities
• Muscle fatigue
• Inhibition of longitudinal muscle growth
• Inhibition of protein synthesis in muscle cells

   

  Complications

• Urinary tract infections (UTI)
• Chronic constipation
• Fever or other

It is important to seek when spasticity is experienced for the first time with no known cause, the spasticity is worsening and becoming more frequent, pain is experienced due to stiff joints and muscles or the condition is preventing performance of everyday tasks. Prolonged and untreated spasticity can lead to frozen joints and/or pressure sores on the skin, which are very painful. Begin by contacting your primary care , who may refer you for further testing or physical therapy.

Due to the varying degrees of spasticity, may not be so simple. A physical examination with will be done to test for spasticity and the severity of it. Imaging such as can provide more information on the source of spasticity and the extent of the damage that has caused it.

Fortunately, there are several treatment options for spasticity and patients usually undergo more than one treatment at a time. The following treatments have been shown to effectively alleviate symptoms and improve quality of daily life.

• : stretching and strengthening exercises focusing on large muscle groups to improve range of motion and mobility.
• : exercises that focus on small muscle groups to improve strength and coordination allowing for improved performance of daily tasks. Speech therapy can also be done by patients whose spasticity has affected their speech.
• Casting or bracing: prevents involuntary spasms and reduces tightening of the muscles.
• Oral Medications: oral medications are used in combination with other therapies or medications, such as physical or occupational therapy. Oral medications are only used if symptoms interfere with daily functioning or sleep. Common medications include:
  • Baclofen
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Dantrolene sodium
  • Imidazolines
  • Gabapentin
• : Botox injections can be used to paralyze the spastic muscle preventing it from contracting. In small amounts, Botox is injected into carefully selected sites determined based on the pattern of spasticity. Botox injections can last up to 12-16 weeks, but, due to the plasticity of the nervous system, new nerve endings will form and the muscle will no longer be inhibited by the Botox. Additionally, while Botox can be very helpful, there is a limited number of injections that can be administered.

• : A pump can be surgically placed in a patient’s abdomen and will release a steady dose of baclofen directly to the spinal fluid. This allows for a significant reduction in spasticity and pain with fewer side effects compared to taking baclofen orally. ITB pump therapy should only be considered in extreme cases of spasticity and has been found to be most effective in treating spasticity in the lower and upper extremities.
• : Spasticity can be caused by an imbalance in electrical signals to antagonist muscles. SDR rebalances the electrical signals sent to the spinal cord by cutting selective nerve roots. This is only done in severe spasticity of the legs. With proper and precise indication of the problematic nerve roots, cutting these roots will decrease muscle stiffness, while maintaining other functions. SDR is most commonly used in patients with cerebral palsy.

Patients are recommended to follow up with their primary care or specialty doctor regularly to ensure proper treatment of the condition. Typically, for surgeries such as baclofen pump placement, patients are followed by their neurosurgeon who sees them three months, six months and 12 months post operatively and additionally for medicine dosing appointments and any device-related appointments. Patients who take oral medications or who do physical and/or occupational therapy should follow-up with their doctors as instructed and needed.

Currently Recruiting:

 

Recently Published:

• This article includes the thoughts of a pediatric neurosurgeon reflecting on his personal experiences with rhizotomy to shed light on what should be changed and what should be kept the same when performing rhizotomy, primarily in children.
• This longitudinal, prospective study looked at patient outcomes, both adult and children, to determine the effectiveness and practicality of ithrathecal baclofen pump therapy for severe spasticity. The study found that, even 10 years after pump placement, 87.2% of adult and 76.3% of pediatric patients continued with ITB therapy.
• This study aimed to look at the effectiveness of the intrathecal pump therapy for patients with inherited ataxia who also suffer from spasticity. The study found that intrathecal pump therapy provides pain relief for patients who have ataxia and spasticity.
• This review searched the medical literature to determine whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an effective treatment for spasticity. The review found supporting literatue to conclude that TENS alongside physical therapy is a more effective treatment than just TENS alone, or just physical therapy alone, for lower limb spasticity.

   

  Resources for More Information

Patient Pages are authored by neurosurgical professionals, with the goal of providing useful information to the public.

Julie G Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FÂ鶹ÊÓƵ

Chair, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics

Professor, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics

Albany Medical College

Dr. Pilitsis specializes in neuromodulation with research interests in treatments for movement disorders and chronic pain.

 

Olga Khazen, BS

Research Coordinator

Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics

Albany Medical College

The Â鶹ÊÓƵ does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products or physicians referenced in these patient fact sheets. This information provided is an educational service and is not intended to serve as medical advice. Anyone seeking specific neurosurgical advice or assistance should consult his or her neurosurgeon, or locate one in your area through the Â鶹ÊÓƵ’ Find a Board-certified Neurosurgeon online tool.