What is the definition of spasticity?
Spasticity is a condition in which there is an abnormal increase in muscle tone or stiffness of muscle, which might interfere with movement, speech, or be associated with discomfort or pain. Spasticity is usually caused by damage to nerve pathways within the brain or spinal cord that control muscle movement.
How do you classify spasticity?
The Ashworth scale grades spasticity as follows: 0 = normal muscle tone; 1 = slight increase in muscle tone, “catch” when limb moved; 2 = more marked increase in muscle tone, but limb easily flexed; 3 = considerable increase in muscle tone; and 4 = limb rigid in flexion or extension.
How do you describe muscle spasticity?
Spasticity is stiff or rigid muscles. It may also be called unusual tightness or increased muscle tone. Reflexes (for example, a knee-jerk reflex) are stronger or exaggerated. The condition can interfere with walking, movement, speech, and many other activities of daily living.
What is the difference between spasticity and contractures?
Spasticity and contractures are conditions in which muscle imbalance across a joint leads to abnormal positioning and tightness. Spasticity refers to involuntary tightening or stiffening of muscles. The term contracture refers to abnormal positioning of a joint.
What is muscle spasticity vs rigidity?
Whereas spasticity arises as a result of damage to the corticoreticulospinal (pyramidal) tracts, rigidity is caused by dysfunction of extrapyramidal pathways, most commonly the basal ganglia, but also as a result of lesions of the mesencephalon and spinal cord.
What is the difference between spasticity and tightness?
Normally, a body joint opens or closes because the muscle on one side of the joint tightens while its opposing muscle relaxes. Spasticity causes both muscles to tighten, making it difficult or impossible to control movements.
What is the difference between spasticity and dystonia?
Spasticity is clinically defined by velocity-dependent hypertonia and tendon jerk hyperreflexia due to the hyper-excitability of the stretch reflex. Spastic dystonia is the inability to relax a muscle leading to a spontaneous tonic contraction.
Does spasticity show on EMG?
An EMG test may be used to help identify the cause of certain symptoms such as muscle weakness, stiffness, spasticity, atrophy, and deformity. An EMG procedure can determine whether a patient is experiencing real muscle weakness as opposed to weakness caused by pain or psychological reasons.
How is spasticity diagnosed?
A physical examination with neurological testing will be done to test for spasticity and the severity of it. Imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide more information on the source of spasticity and the extent of the damage that has caused it.
How is spasticity tested?
The most common clinical assessment of spasticity in MS is as a component of the standard neurological examination. More focused clinical scales for measuring spasticity include the Ashworth Scale and the Modified Ashworth Scale, the Tardieu Scale and Modified Tardieu Scales, and the pendulum test.
What does spasticity in legs feel like?
Spasticity may be as mild as the feeling of tightness of muscles or may be so severe as to produce painful, uncontrollable spasms of extremities, usually of the legs. Spasticity may also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause low back pain.
What does spasticity mean?
Definition. Spasticity is a condition in which there is an abnormal increase in muscle tone or stiffness of muscle, which might interfere with movement, speech, or be associated with discomfort or pain. Spasticity is usually caused by damage to nerve pathways within the brain or spinal cord that control muscle movement.
What does spasticity feel like?
What does spasticity feel like? Spasticity may be as mild as the feeling of tightness of muscles or may be so severe as to produce painful, uncontrollable spasms of extremities, usually of the legs. Spasticity may also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause low back pain.
What is spasticity definition?
Spasticity is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement. The muscles remain contracted and resist being stretched, thus affecting movement, speech and gait.
How to reduce spasticity?
Intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB): ITB therapy is used to treat severe spasticity. Baclofen is delivered directly to the spinal cord by a programmable pump and catheter.