Spasticity Care
Spasticity specialists at AHBA focus on evaluating, managing, and treating involuntary muscle stiffness and spasms caused by neurological conditions. Through a combination of therapies, medications, and targeted injections, our team helps improve mobility, reduce discomfort, and enhance daily function without relying solely on surgical interventions.
Understanding and Managing Muscle Stiffness
Spasticity is a condition where certain muscles contract involuntarily, causing stiffness, spasms, or tightness that can affect movement, speech, and daily activities. It often occurs as a result of neurological conditions such as stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, or multiple sclerosis. At AHBA, our multidisciplinary team works to manage spasticity through personalized care plans, including physical and occupational therapy, medications, Botox® injections, and, in severe cases, surgical interventions. Early evaluation and treatment can improve mobility, reduce discomfort, and enhance overall quality of life.
When to Seek Medical Care
It is important to consult a healthcare provider if spasticity appears suddenly without a known cause, as it may indicate central nervous system damage. Patients with a known diagnosis should also seek care if spasticity worsens, becomes more frequent, or interferes with daily activities, mobility, or sleep. Early evaluation and treatment can help maintain independence, improve comfort, and prevent long-term complications.
Care and Treatment Options
At AHBA, spasticity is managed through a combination of nonsurgical and, in severe cases, surgical interventions. While there is no permanent cure, these treatments aim to reduce muscle stiffness, improve mobility, and enhance overall quality of life.
Non-Surgical Therapies
Nonsurgical options at AHBA focus on improving movement and daily function. Physical therapy helps stretch, strengthen, and improve mobility, while occupational therapy supports upper body function for tasks like grooming and cooking. Speech therapy assists if facial or throat muscles are affected. Bracing or casting stretches tight muscles, and assistive devices enhance safety and independence. Medications such as baclofen, tizanidine, dantrolene, diazepam, clonazepam, or gabapentin can reduce spasticity, often combined with therapy, though side effects like drowsiness may occur. Targeted botulinum toxin (Botox) injections relax specific spastic muscles, typically providing relief for about three months.
Surgical Treatments
Surgical options are reserved for severe cases. Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) delivers medication directly to the spinal fluid to reduce spasticity. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) selectively cuts nerve roots to rebalance signals, mainly for severe leg spasticity in cerebral palsy. Orthopedic surgery addresses the effects of spasticity on muscles, bones, and connective tissue, including contractures, deformities, tendon lengthening, or tendon transfers.
Managing Spasticity at AHBA
Spasticity is a frequent symptom of various neurological conditions, ranging from mild muscle tightness to significant impairment in daily activities. At AHBA, our multidisciplinary team provides tailored treatment options to help reduce muscle stiffness, improve movement, and enhance overall quality of life.
