What kind of doctor treats spasticity?
While your primary doctor will stay play a vital role in your preventive healthcare, you may need to see a neurologist to help treat spasticity. This type of medical doctor specializes in injuries and diseases of both the spinal cord and brain, such as MS, cerebral palsy, and stroke.
How do physical therapists treat spasticity?
The most commonly indicated treatments for spasticity, in descending order, were positioning, prolonged muscle stretching, splinting, motor-level stimulation, other treatment modalities (options not listed), vibration, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), traction, and prolonged icing (see Table 2).
Does spasticity get worse over time?
These symptoms of severe spasticity can worsen gradually over time and lead to loss of movement control, muscle weakness, increased care needs, and even sexual dysfunction. Spasticity may occur or worsen because of other conditions (like constipation or infection) or in stressful situations.
What triggers spasticity?
Spasticity is generally caused by damage or disruption to the area of the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for controlling muscle and stretch reflexes. These disruptions can be due to an imbalance in the inhibitory and excitatory signals sent to the muscles, causing them to lock in place.
Does massage help spasticity?
Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) use massage for prevention or relief of the following symptoms: Spasticity — Massage can help relax muscles and enhance range of motion exercises. Pain — Massage is useful in any condition in which a reduction in swelling or mobilization of tissues leads to pain relief.
What can make spasticity worse?
Spasticity may be aggravated by sudden movements or position changes, extremes of temperature, humidity or infections, and can even be triggered by tight clothing. Some degree of spasticity can provide benefit, particularly for people who experience significant leg weakness.
What can worsen spasticity?
Extreme cold and extreme heat are both common spasticity triggers. Your body temperature may change because of the weather, exercise, your clothing, or a fever.
Is heat good for spasticity?
In more persistent injuries like muscle spasms, heat is often the remedy. Applying heat to muscle spasms will help relax the spasm. On an acute injury, like a sprain or fracture where swelling or inflammation is apparent, then ice is usually your first step within 24-36 hours of being injured.
Can massage Help spasticity?
Massage therapy helps relax spastic muscles by manually lengthening the shortened muscle fibers. By reducing muscle tone, massage therapy helps improve range of motion, motor control, and flexibility.
How does baclofen work for spasticity?
Baclofen is one of the medications most commonly used to treat spasticity. Baclofen acts in the spinal cord, and improves hyperactive reflexes and excessive muscle tone.
Can you take baclofen forever?
Treatment with baclofen is usually long-term, so keep taking these tablets unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Suddenly stopping treatment can cause problems, so your doctor is likely to want you to reduce your dose gradually if this is necessary.