Spasticity
Spasticity is the presence of overly-tight muscles caused by a lack of normal communication between the brain and spinal cord. Spastic muscles put up unusually high resistance to forces that come from outside the body, interfering with a child’s movements. Left untreated, spasticity can lead to muscle contractures (muscles that are too short or too tight) and bone deformities.
Our Team Approach
At Gillette’s Spasticity Evaluation Clinic, our medical specialists combine their expertise to form a complete picture of how spasticity affects children. We work closely with patients and families to develop comprehensive spasticity-management plans tailored to each child’s treatment goals.
Treatment
There’s no known cure for spasticity. Treatment, however, can lessen its impact on everyday activities. Our treatment recommendations reflect the individual strengths and weaknesses of each child, including:
- Level of spasticity
- Age, physical health and developmental level
- Cause of spasticity
- Presence of other movement disorders that affect muscle tone
- Strength, muscle control and balance
- Functional goals and abilities
- The family’s needs and preferences
After an evaluation we recommend one, or a combination of, the following options. In some cases, one treatment enhances the effectiveness of another. Physical therapy, for example, is important following surgical procedures.
