Spasticity

Home care:

Spasticity may often be helped by physical therapy. Daily routines of exercise including muscle stretching to prevent joint contractures will help reduce the severity of symptoms of severe spasticity. Physical therapy can be taught to parents who may then administer the care at home.

Call your health care provider if:

• the spasticity worsens.
• contracture deformities appear to be developing.
• there is any deterioration in the condition.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting spasticity in detail may include:

• When was it first noticed?
• How long has it lasted?
• Is it always present?
• How severe is it?
• What muscles are affected?
• What makes it better?
• What makes it worse?
• What other symptoms are also present?

A diagnosis of spasticity usually will have been made following a brain injury or the diagnosis of cerebral palsy (often in a hospital setting). Physical therapy consists of stretching exercises, muscle group strengthening exercises, and repetitive motion exercises (for improvement of accuracy and performance at given tasks). Occasionally, surgery is required for tendon release or severing of the nerve-muscle pathway.

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the cause of spasticity, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record. Also note what treatment is being done for the muscle spasticity.