Spasticity

What is a Stroke | Diagnosing Stroke | Location of Stroke | Effects of Stroke |  Spasticity

A person has spasticity after a stroke when muscle tightness in an arm or leg can't be relaxed. The reflex in the muscle doesn't obey the brain's commands. This is most common in the arm and it can interfere with a person's ability to dress themselves or carry on with daily activities.

Symptoms include stiffness in arms, fingers or legs; painful muscle spasms, a kind of jerking motion, abnormal posture, and excitable reflexes.

Treatment can include a muscle stretching program performed a couple of times a day. Other strategies include oral medication that may help the problem but have side effects; nerve block injections,which are medications given through the spine and some kinds of surgery.

Sources for this report include the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Consumer Guide No. #16 AHQR pub. no. 95-0664 US Agency For Healthcare Research and Quality.