Spasticity

Description

Spasticity is an abnormal increase in muscle tone. It can be caused by some types of damage to the nerve pathways regulating muscles. Spasticity is a very common complication of cerebral palsy, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. While the incidence of spasticity is not known with certainty, it is likely that it affects over half a million people in the United States alone, and over 12 million worldwide.

Spasticity can lead to incoordination, loss of function, pain, and permanent muscle shortening, or contracture. Spasticity does not always require treatment, but when it does, a wide range of effective therapies—used alone or in combination—is now available.

Please see the following topics related to spasticity below, and available on the left side of this page.

For pediatric forms of spasticity, see: Pediatric Movement Disorders - Spasticity.


Spasticity Slide Set	Spasticity Rating Scales	Spasticity Patient Fact Sheets	Anatomical Illustrations

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Medical Editor: Richard Robinson, NASW, WE MOVE
Medical Review: Mitchell F. Brin, MD