Spasticity: how to control the muscles

A very interesting text discovered in an Italian blog, and adapted by me.

Many people (stroke survivors, with multiple sclerosis, and others cerebral diseases) have muscle stiffness and spasms, a condition called spasticity. It happens especially in the leg and arm muscles, and can keep them from moving their limbs freely.

Spasticity happens due to an imbalance in the electrical signals from the brain and spinal cord, frequently when nerves have been damaged there. This irregularity makes the muscles contract themselves and turns them tense.

The condition can worsen when it's too hot or cold, when you have an infection, or if you are wearing tight clothing.

Physical therapy, medication, surgery, or a combination of these treatments may relieve spasticity. To decide the best way to help you, your doctors will think about your overall health, how severe the symptoms are, and, most of the time, a therapist begins treatment of spasticity with a basic stretching program. The goal is to stretch the muscles to relieve the condition.

An occupational therapist can recommend several tools, such as splints, moulds, or braces, to maintain your range of motion and flexibility.

If the physical therapy and occupational do not help, your doctor may decide to try drugs.

Text translated and adapted from the blog Orlando.