Spasticity is a condition that occurs in an involuntary increase in muscle contraction, which can occur in any muscle, which can make it difficult for the person to perform everyday activities, such as talking, moving, and eating, for example.
Esta condição acontece por causa de algum dano na parte do cérebro ou medula espinhal que controla os movimentos voluntários dos músculos, e estes danos podem ser provocados por um acidente vascular cerebral ou ser consequência de paralisia cerebral. No entanto, dependendo da alteração cerebral, a espasticidade pode ser mais leve, afetando um pequeno conjunto de músculos, como no braço, ou se for mais extensa pode surgir em vários locais, como do lado direito do corpo.
- Spasticity is a chronic disease.
- I.
- E.
- It does not cure.
- But it is possible to reduce symptoms through physical therapy.
- The use of medications indicated by the neurologist.
- Such as muscle relaxants.
- Or localized applications of botox.
Spasticity symptoms depend on the severity of the brain or spinal cord injury, but may:
Because of muscle changes, the person with spasticity may have poor posture, bent arms, straight legs and feet, and his head tilted to one side.
Spasticity can occur in a person with cerebral palsy, because the brain damage that occurs in these cases affects muscle tone, which is the force the muscle makes to move, altering the movements of arms and legs, for example.
People who have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of an accident may develop spasticity, which occurs due to brain or brain injuries, making nerve endings unable to send a message for muscle movement.
Spasticity is also very common in people with multiple sclerosis, as this autoimmune disease causes an alteration of the nervous system that affects muscle movements. Find out what multiple sclerosis is, your symptoms and treatment.
In addition, other conditions that can cause spasticity include encephalitis, severe meningitis, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, phenylketonuria and adrenoleucodystrophy, also known as Lorenzo’s disease.
Spasticity levels can be evaluated according to the rating scale, called Ashworth:
As treatment is done daily, the patient may gradually decrease his or her level of spasticity.
Treatment of spasticity should be guided by a neurologist, as it is necessary to evaluate the neurological cause of the problem. Options include:
Spasticity medications, such as baclofen or diazepam, are usually used to help relax muscles and relieve pain symptoms, for example. Other remedies that may also be indicated are benzodiazepines, clonidine or tizanidine, which reduce the transmission of stimuli and facilitate muscle relaxation.
To improve spasticity symptoms, physiotherapy is also recommended to maintain joint amplitude and avoid other complications, such as joint stiffness, due to lack of use of the affected limb’s joint.
Physical therapy in spasticity can be done with the use of
Physical therapy exercises should be done at least twice a week with a physical therapist and you can do the exercises they teach you every day at home. This treatment is used to reduce spasticity symptoms and facilitate daily activities.
Botox injections, also known as botulinum toxin, can be used to reduce muscle stiffness and facilitate joint movements, helping the person perform daily activities and even physiotherapy sessions.
These injections should be indicated by the doctor and act by reducing involuntary muscle contractions, however their action has a specified time, between 4 months to 1 year, being more frequent to have to resort to a new dose of this substance at 6 months of the first application. Botox may also be indicated to treat spasticity in children. See more other botox applications.