Services

Spasticity is one of the most commonly reported impairments that result from an injury or damage to the brain or spinal cord. It is the stiffness or increased resistance in muscles that is more pronounced when the limb is moved quickly. This can affect how someone moves, functions, can clean or wash a body part, or even walk safely.

How can we help with spasticity?

Physiotherapists who are experienced in managing spasticity can perform specific assessments to determine the severity and impact of spasticity on function and come up with a treatment plan to address this. Physical therapies and rehabilitation are the first line management of spasticity, in combination with interventions to improve muscle activation and control. At times, spasticity may require medical intervention such as medication taken as a tablet, injections directly to the affected muscles or more complex interventions. Such treatments are carried out by doctors who specialize in neurology or rehabilitation medicine.

What does spasticity clinic involve?

Neurological Rehabilitation Group has a Spasticity clinic, which runs at the Mt Waverley site and is overseen by our clinical lead physiotherapist Jan Quiney. A visiting doctor, who is both a neurologist and rehabilitation physician, attends the clinic to administer botulinum neurotoxin to patients of the clinic. A comprehensive assessment by our spasticity team prior to this booking is carried out to determine the clinical need and patient specific goals related to the intervention, in addition to education about what will happen at the clinic. The injections provide a window of opportunity when the treated muscle(s) are less active to work hard to make longer lasting changes that were previously affected by the spasticity.

Prior to accessing our spasticity clinic, a 1:1 assessment will be conducted with one of our experienced clinicians to assess the need for botulinum neurotoxin and therapy goals.