What are the methods 2 reduce spasticity? is quick icing effective?
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What are the methods 2 reduce spasticity? is quick icing effective?
spasticity is reduced by
-slow icing from distal to proximal (uni directional) of the muscle
-slow sustained streching
-splinting
-spasticity inhibiting positioning
Just let him to do functional things,over and over,PRACTICE! Walking,reaching, etc., the brain has plastic capabilities so that a neurologic patient can function inspite of the spasticity! And you gotta know the patient's prognosis (loss of consciousness at the time of event, extent of damage by ct scan,etc.) so that you can know if he gets more benefit from physio or not.
what is the problem that you are facing because of spasticity? is it focal/diffuse? is it mild moderateor severe? and the location.
these will help to answer you better.
thanks
Being a recovering stroke patient. I'd have to say that the general muscle relaxants, Baclofen and Zanaflex were worse than worthless. I never tried icing mainly because I live in Minnesota and in winter my spasticity gets much worse. Stretching helps for an extremely short time. Botox was the only thing that helped. My plastic brain is not smart enough to learn to do two things at a time, ie. turn off my spastic muscles and turn on the opposing pair. I really don't think I can function in spite of my spasticity. I consider spasticity the main deficit I currently have(curled fingers, bicep always on, latisimus). Hopefully sometime soon the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke will start up some research on what is the best treatment for spasticity.
quick icing is for facilitation and not for inhibition.to inhibit a muscle static icing for 20 minutes should be used with proper method as it reduces the muscl spindle excitability and stimulates GTO inhibitionQuote:
Originally Posted by gene
spasticity inhibiting positions
correction of altered biomechanics.
Reading your message, in my opinion, is enough to say that you recovered from a devastating and debilitating effects of stroke. All you have is what we call the "residual deficits", wherein, there is a slim chance of improvement.Quote:
Originally Posted by oc1dean
I'm sure you already coped up with the fate of the half side of your body and all I can advice is to focus on "function", like, improving your activities of daily living, dont focus on your affected side ("turn off my spastic muscles and turn on the opposing pair"), you still have the other half (unaffected side) and the recovering function of your affected side to do things which matters to you....
I hope, the law is in your side if you really need employment and many support groups are there to help you with your vocational life.
My point is, take a look at the bigger picture, you are better than that spastic limb you have now. We are a perfect spirit that lives in an imperfect body...circumstances such as stroke doesn't build, it reveals your true CHARACTER!
Enjoy your everyday life.
hiQuote:
Originally Posted by sarapollo08
isit necesary to go distal to proximal? wht is d reason for doing only unidirection?
thanku
Since I am just a stroke survivor it was interesting to find that researchers seem to believe spasticity is not a problem for stroke survivors
See Letters to the Editor
Spasticity After Stroke: Why Bother?
by William M. Landau, MD
(Stroke. 2004;35:1787.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.
Similarly, regarding spasticity, I have yet to find any adequately controlled demonstration that the steadfast fad of fixing this phantom facilitates functional recovery from hemiplegia; there is much evidence to the contrary
Also check out
Sommerfeld DK, Eek EU, Svensson AK, Holmqvist LW, von Arbin MH. Spasticity after stroke: its occurrence and association with motor impairments and activity limitations. Stroke. 2004; 35: 134–139.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Sommerfeld et al that the "focus on spasticity in stroke rehabilitation is out of step with its clinical importance."
So why bother trying to fix spasticity since we should try to " harness its diffuse hyperactivity". I guess patients should be told this is normal and nothing can be done about it the researchers have said it is not a problem, it is all in your head,
I would love to be proven wrong about this research, but there definitely is a contingent that does not want to solve this problem and I would argue that if they had to recover from spasticity they would not dismiss it so easily.:eek:
Dear Friends,
Follow the link for complete understanding of spasticity and its physical therapy management.
Spasticity Management
Or download complete note as a pdf from here.
Hope this will be helpful to all of us.
Regards,
Thanks, Sagar,
really like your paper. I believe, you could add Hippotherapy to your vestibular stimulation section.
I think, it sums it all up: there are lots and lots of ways on how to deal with spasticity and often, it is nothing else but going for trial and error.
I have got patients, where a simple 10 sec ice bath completely resolves finger flex spasticity and then others, where only Botox A can give you that window of opportunity to start working on stretches, spliting and functional exercises.
Sagar, I have saved a copy of your paper, and would like to contribute it at work. Could you please tell me where it has been published and who's got ownership rights?
Thanks,
Fyzzio
Dear Fyzzio,Quote:
Originally Posted by Fyzzio
Thanks for appreciating. This the notes which I have prepared when I was in my undergraduate by referring my books and other materials. So if you want you can add if anything is missing. The purpose is to share what we have so if you don't mind then after you have added stuff then please also send it to me. So I can learn the missing parts.
Thanks,