Spasticity Management

Spasticity is a disruption of normal muscle function in which all the muscles contract at once. Spasticity has an enormous impact on quality of life, causing muscle tightness and rigidity that can be very painful and also can interfere with movement, physical function and the ability to walk. It is one of the most debilitating and painful complications of cerebral palsy (CP), traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis (MS) or stroke.

Our care teams at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab are expert in spasticity management for children and adolescents, with a focus on promoting movement, improving physical function and reducing pain. In our Complex Movement Disorders Clinic at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, our pediatric physiatrists, nurse and social worker collaborate with neurosurgery and neurology from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Through an interdisciplinary evaluation process, we consider all treatment options and integrate those that will maximize functional improvement for each child.

Treatments are tailored by individual and might include:

• Pharmacology (Botox, Baclofen pumps)
• Recommendations for surgical procedures such as selective dorsal rhizotomies, followed by post-surgery rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Nutrition counseling
• Wheelchair Seating & Positioning
• Prosthetics & Orthotics

For adults, spasticity management is included in the comprehensive rehabilitation services we provide to our patients with neurological diseases. Depending on the patient, our physiatrists also make referrals. The services we provide are also the same as those for pediatric patients, with the exception of nutrition counseling.