Spasticity Infographic

What You Should Know About Spasticity

Spasticity is like a charley horse that never ends. Symptoms include painful, stiff, rigid muscles, involuntary contractions or muscle spasms, and overactive reflexes.

Effects of spasticity:

• Bent elbow and arm pressed against the chest
• Stiffness in arms, fingers
• Tight fist
• Stiffness in legs or knees
• Pointed foot
• Curled toes

About 25 to 43% of stroke survivors will have spasticity in the first year after their stroke.

Complications from spasticity:

• Atypical posture
• Contractures (permanent contraction of the muscles and tendons)
• Bone and joint deformities
• Difficulty with care and hygiene
• Skin irritation due to spasms

Treatments for spasticity:

While there’s no cure for spasticity, a combination of these and other therapies and medications can lessen the symptoms and improve strength and movement.

• Targeted injections of botulinum toxin to block nerve pain and relieve tight muscles
• Oral medications to help relax the nerves and muscles
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation or vibrations applied to spasmatic muscles
• Intrathecal baclofen therapy may be used to deliver continuous medication to ease severe muscle contractions and spasms
• Applying a brace or splint to an affected limb or joint
• Gentle stretching of tighter muscles
• Range-of-motion exercises
• Frequent movement and repositioning of body parts
• Surgery on affected muscles, tendons or joints to block pain and restore movement

Learn more at stroke.org/spasticity

© Copyright 2022 American Heart Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for profit. All rights reserved. American Stroke Association is a registered trademark of the AHA. Unauthorized use prohibited.