Spasticity after spinal cord injury

• Published in: Spinal cord Vol. 43; no. 10; pp. 577 - 586
• Main Authors: ADAMS, M. M, HICKS, A. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing 01-10-2005; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Baclofen - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Cerebrospinal fluid. Spinal cord. Spinal roots. Spinal nerves; Humans; Injections, Spinal; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Medical sciences; Muscle Relaxants, Central - therapeutic use; Muscle Spasticity - etiology; Muscle Spasticity - therapy; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neurosurgery; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; spinal cord injury; Nervous system diseases; Prevalence; Vertebral canal; Pathophysiology; Spasticity; Muscle tonus alteration; Striated muscle disease; Clinical management; management; Spinal cord trauma; Central nervous system disease; definition; Neurological disorder; Spinal cord disease
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.sc.3101757

Symptoms of spasticity are often experienced by individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) following a period of spinal shock and, in many cases, these symptoms negatively affect quality of life. Despite its prevalence, spasticity as a syndrome in the SCI population is not always managed effectively. This is likely due to the fact that the syndrome can have various presentations, each with their own specific etiology. This overview summarizes the symptoms and pathophysiology of the various presentations of spasticity in the SCI population and discusses the currently accepted management techniques. There is a need for a better understanding of the syndrome of spasticity as well as the development of a valid and reliable assessment tool.