Spasticity - Citizendia

Spasticity Classification and external resources
DiseasesDB	20872
eMedicine	neuro/706 pmr/177
MeSH	D009128

Spasticity or muscular hypertonicity is a disorder of the body motor system, and especially the central nervous system (CNS), in which certain muscles are continuously contracted. The Diseases Database is a free Website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions Symptoms, and Medications. eMedicine is an online clinical medical knowledge base that was founded in 1996 by Scott Plantz and Richard Lavely two medical doctors Medical Subject Headings ( MeSH) is a huge Controlled vocabulary (or metadata system for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books The motor system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that is involved to movement Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the This contraction causes stiffness or tightness of the muscles and may interfere with gait, movement, and speech. Speech refers to the processes associated with the production and perception of Sounds used in Spoken language. Depending on severity, the person with the spastic muscles may or may not feel it. However, it can often be severely disabling . The human motor system is not always linked with the sensory systems, nor the voluntary-muscle systems. See also Sense A sensory system is a part of the Nervous system responsible for processing sensory information

1 Presentation
2 Possible benefits
3 Treatment
4 Prognosis
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

Presentation

Symptoms may include hypertonia (increased muscle tone), clonus (a series of rapid muscle contractions), exaggerated deep tendon reflexes, muscle spasms, scissoring (involuntary crossing of the legs), and fixed joints (contractures). Hypertonia is an Upper motor neuron dysfunction marked by an abnormal increase in tightness of Muscle tone and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch Clonus (from the Greek for "violent confused motion" is a series of involuntary Muscular contractions due to sudden stretching of the muscle A tendon (or sinew) is a tough band of Fibrous connective tissue that usually connects Muscle to Bone and is capable of withstanding tension A spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a Muscle, a group of muscles or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden Contraction of an Orifice The degree of spasticity varies from mild muscle stiffness to severe, painful, and uncontrollable muscle spasms. Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the

The condition can interfere with rehabilitation in patients with certain disorders, and often interferes with daily activities. Over the years, it may increase in its effect, so more severe treatments may be needed later. Cold weather and fatigue can trigger spasms more severely than other times. The constant spasms can lead to muscle fatigue so periodic rest is required but often difficult to achieve. Multi-tasking (such as walking, talking, eating and other activities) can also trigger more severe spasticity.

Possible benefits

May help some patients to ambulate, stand or transfer (e. g. , stand pivot transfers)
May assist in maintaining muscle bulk
May assist in preventing DVTs
May assist in preventing osteoporosis pressure ulcer formation over bony prominences
Can be used as “diagnostic tool” (with increased spasticity being a sign of exposure to a noxious stimuli—infection, bowel impaction, urinary retention, etc) [1]

Treatment

If the cause is fatigue, the first remedy is rest or relaxation. Massage feels incredibly good but only provides temporary relief. Stretching the muscles involved also feels good but only provides temporary relief. Chronic spasms can lead to shortening of the muscles and ligaments. Regular (daily) exercises over the years ahead of these ligaments and muscles are needed to prevent the pain and the crippling of movement.

Treatment may include such medications as baclofen, diazepam, dantrolene, or clonazepam; muscle stretching, range of motion exercises, and other occupational therapy or physical therapy regimens to help prevent joint contractures (shrinkage or shortening of a muscle) and reduce the severity of symptoms; or surgery for tendon release or to block the connection between nerve and muscle, so that the muscle does not contract. Baclofen (brand names Kemstro and Lioresal) is a derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA primarily used to treat Spasticity. Diazepam (daɪˈæzɨpæm first marketed as Valium by Hoffmann-La Roche, is a Benzodiazepine derivative Drug. Dantrolene sodium is a Muscle relaxant that acts by abolishing Excitation-contraction coupling in muscle cells, probably by action on the Ryanodine Clonazepam (marketed by Roche under the trade-names Klonopin in the United States and Rivotril, Ravotril or Rivatril in Europe South Occupational Therapy, often abbreviated "OT", is the "use of productive or creative activity in the treatment or rehabilitation of physically cognitively or Surgery (from the χειρουργική cheirourgikē, via chirurgiae meaning "hand work" is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental The connection between nerve and muscle may also be blocked temporarily, without surgery, by injecting botulinum toxin into the muscle. Botulinum toxin is a Neurotoxin Protein produced by the Bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Some USA states have also issued medical marijuana to help treat spasticity. Medical cannabis refers to the use of the Cannabis plant as a physician-recommended Herbal therapy as well as synthetic THC and Cannabinoids

Prognosis

The prognosis for those with spasticity depends on the severity of the spasticity and the associated disorder(s). To a small degree spasticity performs the helpful role of exercise, but it is usually bothersome to normal activities in life.

References

"Other Complications of Spinal Cord Injury: Spasticity. Cerebral palsy ( CP) is an Umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non- contagious conditions that cause Physical disability "Little's disease" redirects here Spastic diplegia, historically known as Little's Disease, is a form of Cerebral palsy Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA is the chief inhibitory Neurotransmitter in the Mammalian Central nervous system. A rhizotomy (ɹaɪˈzɑtəmi is a Neurosurgical procedure that selectively severs problematic Nerve roots in the Spinal cord, most often to relieve the Phenol, is a toxic colourless Crystalline Solid with a sweet tarry odor commonly referred to as a "hospital smell" Baclofen (brand names Kemstro and Lioresal) is a derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA primarily used to treat Spasticity. Diazepam (daɪˈæzɨpæm first marketed as Valium by Hoffmann-La Roche, is a Benzodiazepine derivative Drug. Dantrolene sodium is a Muscle relaxant that acts by abolishing Excitation-contraction coupling in muscle cells, probably by action on the Ryanodine Clonazepam (marketed by Roche under the trade-names Klonopin in the United States and Rivotril, Ravotril or Rivatril in Europe South Tizanidine (brandnames Zanaflex Sirdalud is a Drug which is used as a Muscle relaxant. Transverse myelitis is a Neurological disorder caused by an Inflammatory process of the grey and white matter of the Spinal cord, " (Louis Calder Memorial Library of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, October 3, 2002), http://calder.med.miami.edu/pointis/spasticity.html

Maureen E. The University of Miami (also known as Miami of Florida, UM, or just The U) is a private non-sectarian University founded in 1925 Neistadt and Elizabeth Blesedell Crepeau, ed. (1998). Willard and Spackman's occupational therapy. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 233. ISBN 0-397-55192-4.

This article contains text from the public domain document at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/spasticity_doc.htm

External links

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