Overview
Spasticity is increased muscle tone that causes tight muscles. It can be seen and felt when a muscle is moved quickly. Spasticity occurs when the brain and spinal cord don’t work together to tell muscles to relax. It can cause muscle contractions, discomfort, pain and bone deformities.
Medical Causes
Spasticity is a symptom associated with damage to the brain, spinal cord or motor nerves, and is seen in individuals with neurological conditions. Children who have an acquired brain injury, a spinal cord injury, a stroke or cerebral palsy may experience spasticity.
Treatment
Our pediatric physiatrists (physicians who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation) are here to help manage your child’s condition. When considering surgical intervention options, our physicians collaborate with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery and neurology physicians to create a customized, multidisciplinary recommendation for your child.
The Mary Free Bed Kids team will discuss different options for treatment. Non-surgical treatment options may include:
- Oral or injectable medications, such as Botox
- Serial casting
- Orthotics
- Physical therapy
There may also be surgical options to consider. Our team may also suggest a gait lab analysis at our Motion Analysis Laboratory to better inform these recommendations.
Learn more about cerebral palsy here.
Contact Us
Grand Rapids
616.840.8005
800.668.6001