Definition

Spasticity is when muscles tighten without control.

Contraction of the Hand Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

Signals travel from the brain through the spinal cord. They control the amount of tension in a muscle. Injury to the brain or spine disturbs the signals. This causes spasticity.

Risk Factors

The risk of this problem is higher in people who have damage to the brain or spine. This may be from:

• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Brain damage due to lack of oxygen or meningitis
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Brain or spinal cord tumor

Symptoms

Problems may range from tightness to strong spasms. A person may also have:

• Stiffness that can make fine movements hard
• Lack of muscle strength
• Pain
• A hard time using the muscles needed to move or communicate
• Movements that cannot be controlled
• Problems doing daily tasks

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on how you move. This may be enough to make the diagnosis.

Blood tests may be done.

Images may also be taken. This can be done with:

• MRI scan
• CT scan
• PET scan

Nerve and muscle function may be tested. This can be done with electromyography/nerve conduction study.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Choices are:

• Medicine to relax muscles
• Physical therapy to improve strength and range of motion
• Braces and other devices to provide support
• Occupational therapy to learn new ways to do daily tasks

Marijuana may also be an option for people who live in certain states. It has been approved for some health problems, such as spasticity.

Some people may need surgery for severe spasticity if other methods do not help. The nerve that sends sensory messages from the muscles to the spine will be cut. It may help reduce the strength of muscle stiffness and spasm.

Prevention

There are no known guidelines to prevent this problem.