What is Spasticity ?
Spasticity is both a sign and a symptom of some neurological conditions. It causes a number of muscles to contract simultaneously. It can affect speech and movement and range in severity. Physical therapy, medication, and botulinum toxin injections are all options for treating spasticity.
Spasticity is a disruption in muscle movement patterns that causes some muscles to contract simultaneously while you are still or trying to move. The muscles resist being stretched because they are still contracted. It hinders movement and has the potential to affect your speech as well as your gait (walk).
Spasticity can have a wide range of effects on an individual; it can be as mild as a feeling of muscle tightness or so severe that it causes painful, uncontrollable stiffness and spasms in the limbs.
Symptoms of spasticity
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| symptoms of spasticity |
Spasticity symptoms can range from minor muscle tightness or stiffness to excruciating, uncontrollable spasms. Another common symptom of spasticity is pain or stiffness in the joints.
- Muscle stiffness makes it difficult to accomplish some jobs and results in less precise movements.
- Muscular spasms, which result in erratic and frequently excruciating muscle contractions
- unwillingly crossing one's legs
- joint and muscle malformations
- muscle weariness
- preventing the formation of longitudinal muscles
- a reduction in the production of protein in muscle cells
Complications in spasticity
- infections of the urinary tract (UTI)
- persistent constipation
- fever or other systemic conditions
- pressure ulcers
- Frozen joints
Causes of spasticity
Spasticity is typically brought on by harm or disruption to the brain and spinal cord region in charge of regulating muscle and stretch responses. These disturbances may result from an imbalance between the inhibitory and excitatory impulses that are given to the muscles, which causes the muscles to contract. Children who are still growing may suffer from the effects of spasticity on their muscles and joints. Various levels of spasticity can be present in people who have multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord damage, or brain injury.
When & How to Find Medical Care
When spasticity occurs for the first time with no known cause, when it gets worse and occurs more frequently, when discomfort from stiff joints and muscles is felt, or when the condition makes it difficult to complete daily duties, it is vital to consult a doctor. Spasticity that is left untreated for a long time can result in painful pressure sores on the skin and/or frozen joints. Contact your primary care physician first. He or she could suggest that you undergo additional tests or physical therapy.
Testing & Diagnosis of spasticity
The different levels of spasticity may make diagnosis more difficult. There will be a physical examination and neurological testing to determine the presence and level of spasticity. Imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reveal more about the aetiology of spasticity and the severity of the harm it has done.
Treatment of spasticity
Thankfully, there are various spasticity treatments available, and patients typically receive more than one medication at a time. The following therapies have been demonstrated to successfully reduce symptoms and enhance everyday living.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Physical therapy: activities that increase range of motion and mobility by stretching and strengthening big muscle groups.
Occupational therapy includes exercises that concentrate on tiny muscle groups to increase strength and coordination, enhancing daily function. Patients whose speech has been impacted by spasticity can potentially benefit from speech therapy.
Casting or bracing: avoids uncontrollable spasms and lessens muscle tightness.
Oral drugs: Oral medications, like physical or occupational therapy, are used in conjunction with other treatments or medications. Only when symptoms interfere with daily activities or sleep are oral drugs utilised. Typical drugs consist of:
- Baclofen
- Benzodiazepines
- Dantrolene sodium
- Imidazolines
- Gabapentin
Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) can be used to paralyse a spastic muscle and stop it from contracting. Small doses of Botox are injected into precisely chosen areas based on the spasticity pattern. Botox injections can continue for up to 12 to 16 weeks, but because the nervous system is malleable, new nerve endings will develop and the muscle won't be blocked by the Botox anymore. Even though Botox can be quite beneficial, only a certain amount of injections can be given.
Surgery
Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) Pump: A pump that releases a consistent dose of baclofen into the spinal fluid can be surgically implanted in the patient's belly. Compared to taking baclofen orally, this enables a considerable decrease in spasticity and discomfort with fewer side effects. Spasticity in the lower and upper extremities has been found to respond best to ITB pump therapy, which should only be used in severe cases of spasticity.
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR): Spasticity may result from an uneven distribution of electrical signals to opposing muscles. By chopping off particular nerve roots, SDR regulates the electrical signals sent to the spinal cord. Only in cases of extreme leg spasticity is this procedure used. Cutting the problematic nerve roots will reduce muscular stiffness while maintaining other functions if the problematic nerve roots are properly and precisely identified. The majority of patients with cerebral palsy who utilise SDR do so.
Follow-up
To ensure that their disease is being treated effectively, patients are advised to schedule routine checkups with their main care or speciality physician. Patients are typically followed by their neurosurgeon for surgeries like the insertion of a baclofen pump, who sees them three months, six months, and twelve months after the surgery as well as for medicine dosing appointments and any device-related appointments. Patients should follow up with their doctors as directed and necessary if they take oral drugs, receive physical and/or occupational therapy, or both.
Frequently asked questions about spasticity
What is spastic behavior?
What is spasticity a symptom of?
What is the main difference between muscle spasm and spasticity?
What is the difference between spasticity and paralysis?
What is the best treatment for spasticity?
- Medications taken orally.
- Intrathecal treatment.
- An injection.
What is the test for spasticity?
What is an example of spasticity?
Which part of the brain is damaged in spasticity?
Ineffective communication between the brain and the muscles causes spasticity. Usually, the cerebral cortex—the part of the brain that regulates movement—or the brainstem, which houses the nerves that link the brain to the spinal cord, are the source of that disruption.
What are the best exercises for spasticity?
- Following a stroke
- by changing your weight.
- shoulders pulling back.
- Ball compression
- ball squeeze.
- curled wrist.
- Assisted reaching and grabbing
- hips bent to the side.
- knee flexions.
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