Spasticity Treatment in Cerebral Palsy

Spasticity is usually caused by central nervous system injuries, such as brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. Spasticity is a little different from stiffness. When you try to stretch your limbs, including arms and legs, you feel more resistance. But the resistance is a little different. When you move slowly, you feel less resistance, but when you move fast you feel more resistance.

If you don't treat the spasticity, what happens is the stiffness is always in the body, therefore patients develop the contractures. Their arm gets twisted or their foot gets twisted. This is going to impact their functions. So even though they were able to walk before, if we don't treat the spasticity, they end up needing a wheelchair.

Spasticity management will improve function, especially walking or sitting to help their pain. Treating spasticity is critical for taking care of patients with cerebral palsy.