What is spasticity?

Spasticity is a neurological movement disorder that causes muscles to feel tight or stiff, which can make it hard to move or control certain parts of your body. It happens when there’s a problem with the signals between your brain, spinal cord and muscles.

Spasticity is a common symptom in people with certain neurological conditions, such as:

Normally, your muscles work together so that when one tightens, the other relaxes. But when the brain or spinal cord is damaged, this system doesn’t work the way it should. Instead, many muscles can tighten all at once, which can make movement feel jerky, stiff or hard to control.

patient suffering from spasticity enjoying a morning coffee after receiving treatment

Spasticity vs. rigidity

Spasticity and rigidity both cause muscle stiffness, but they feel and act differently. Knowing the difference can help you explain your symptoms and get the right care.

Spasticity happens when nerves in the brain or spinal cord are damaged. This makes muscles tighten more when you move them faster or stretch them more. You might notice your muscles suddenly jerk or spasm. Spasticity is common with conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury.

Rigidity is steady muscle stiffness that doesn’t change with movement. The muscles feel tight all the time, no matter how slowly or quickly you move. It usually affects both sides of the body and is linked to conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Rigidity doesn’t cause jerking or spasms like spasticity does.

Both can make moving and doing everyday tasks harder. If you have muscle stiffness or tightness, talk with your doctor. They can find out what’s causing it and help you manage your symptoms.

Spasticity symptoms

Symptoms of spasticity can affect people in very different ways. Some may feel mild tightness in their muscles, while others may have extremely painful spasms that prevent them from doing their regular activities. In some cases, joints can become frozen in an abnormal position, a condition called contracture. Stiffness can cause certain movements to be more difficult.

In addition to stiffness and muscle spasms, symptoms of spasticity include:

  • Increased muscle tone (hypertonia)
  • Involuntary crossing of the legs
  • Irregular posture
  • Muscle spasms
  • Muscle fatigue
  • Pain and discomfort
  • Changes in the shape or alignment of muscles, joints or bones
  • Disrupted sleep due to muscle tightness or spasms

When to see a doctor

See your primary care provider right away if you experience spasticity with no known cause. It could be a sign of a serious problem, such as brain or spinal cord damage. You should also see your doctor if you have been previously diagnosed with spasticity and the condition is getting worse or making it difficult to do everyday activities.

What causes spasticity?

Spasticity happens when there’s damage to the parts of the brain or spinal cord that help control muscle movement and reflexes. This damage can affect how signals travel between the brain and muscles, causing muscles to tighten or contract without your control.

It’s usually a symptom of another condition. Spasticity can develop as a result of:

  • A spinal cord injury
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Stroke
  • A brain injury
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease
  • Hereditary spastic paraplegias
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU)
  • Krabbe disease

Complications of spasticity

Depending on the severity of the condition, untreated spasticity can lead to a number of complications. Severe spasticity can be extremely painful and limit your ability to perform daily activities. When you are unable to move and restricted to a chair or bed, you may develop bedsores, which can be very painful and become infected.

Additional complications include:

  • Contractures: Muscles that contract and remain stiff can lead to frozen joints.
  • Bladder and urinary problems: Chronic constipation and urinary tract infections can occur with spasticity.
  • Bone fractures and joint dislocation: Spasticity can make movement difficult and make bone fractures or dislocated joints more likely to happen.
  • Poor sleep: Muscle tightness or spasms can prevent you from falling or staying asleep.
doctor explaining complications of spasticity to a patient

How is spasticity diagnosed

If you’re experiencing muscle stiffness, spasms or trouble moving, your doctor may check for spasticity. Since spasticity is usually caused by another health condition, a full evaluation is important to understand the cause and how to treat it.

Diagnosing spasticity often involves reviewing your symptoms, checking your muscle function and using tests to look for signs of nerve or brain injury.

Medical history and exam

Your doctor will start by asking questions about your symptoms, including when they started, how they’ve changed and how they affect your daily life. They’ll also want to know about any past injuries, illnesses or neurological conditions that could be related to them. Be sure to tell your doctor if you’ve had a stroke, head injury or a recent diagnosis like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy.

Spasticity treatment

Treating spasticity depends on what's causing it and how much it affects your daily life. Some people may only need mild interventions like stretching or physical therapy, while others may require a combination of therapies, medications or even surgery to help manage muscle stiffness and spasms.

With the right combination of treatments, many people with spasticity can improve their comfort, mobility and quality of life. Your doctor will help you create a care plan that meets your goals and adapts as your needs change.

smiling provider with patient discussing spasticity treatment options

Find specialized care for spasticity

At Baylor Scott & White, we offer several locations for specialized care and treatment of spasticity, including neurology centers across North and Central Texas. Our experienced team is ready to provide personalized care to help improve your quality of life. Whether you're seeking a definitive diagnosis, looking for treatment options or require ongoing support, we're by your side.

Frequently asked questions

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