Cerebral Palsy - Understanding Spasticity

Spasticity in Cerebral Palsy

Spasticity means the inability of a muscle to relax (as if it was in a permanent cramp) and is a common symptom of Cerebral Palsy in children and adults with Cerebral Palsy. People with spastic cerebral palsy have increased muscle tone. Their muscles are stiff. Their movements can be awkward. Seventy to eighty percent of people with cerebral palsy have spasticity. Spastic cerebral palsy is usually described further by what parts of the body are affected. In spastic diplegia, the main effect is found in both legs. In spastic hemiplegia, one side of the person's body is affected. Spastic quadriplegia affects a person's whole body (face, trunk, legs, and arms).

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, making up almost 80% of all cerebral palsy cases. With spastic cerebral palsy, the brain has difficulty effectively communicating with the nerves and muscles to tighten and relax in a coordinated way. Instead, muscles are in a constant state of tenseness and rigidity (i.e., spasticity). This results in movements which are stiff and jerky. This spasticity can affect muscles on one side of the body (spastic hemiplegia), just the legs or just the arms (spastic diplegia), or the entire body (spastic quadriplegia). Depending on what area of the body is affected, a person can have difficulty with things like walking, holding and releasing objects, or moving from one position to another. Complications from spasticity can include: pain, fatigue, bone deformities, repetitive motion injuries and arthritis.

There are three types of spastic cerebral palsy:

1. Spastic Diplegia (or Diparesis).

Spastic Diplegia/Diparesis means muscle stiffness which weakens either both arms or both legs. For more on Spastic Diplegia, click here.

2. Spastic Hemiplegia/Hemiparesis

Spastic Hemiplegia/Hemiparesis means muscle stiffness which weakens either the right or left side of the body. For more on Spastic Hemiplegia, click here.

3. Spastic Quadriplegia/Quadriparesis

Spastic Quadriplegia/Quadriparesis means muscle stiffness which weakens all four quadrants of the body. For more on Spastic Quardriplegia, click here.

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