What is spasticity?
Spasticity occurs when a muscle receives a stimulus to contract. This may be in response to pain, pressure or stretch to the skin, joints or muscle.
Following brain injury there is reduced influence from the 
Central Nervous System to restore the balance between muscle contraction and relaxation. Muscles therefore remain in abnormal states of contraction. Muscles therefore remain in abnormal states of contraction which results in abnormal movement and/or abnormal positioning of the trunk or limbs affected.
How does spasticity affect the person?
- Mild spasticity: muscles affected display minor abnormal increases in contraction that produce small abnormal movements that disappear at rest.
- Moderate spasticity: muscles affected display abnormal increases in contraction that produce more marked and fixed abnormal movement. This effect reduces over time when the muscles affected are given the opportunity to relax.
- Severe spasticity: muscles affected display severely abnormal increases in contraction, which results in joints, being held in fixed positions, for long periods.
What makes spasticity worse?
Any stimulation that would increase tone in a normal muscle will increase spasticity, e.g. pain, anxiety, a sudden pull on the muscle, putting too much effort into a movement.
How to Help?
- Manage pain with appropriate medication regimes.
- Reduce effect of pressure with good seating and positioning
- Give affected parts of the body a chance to relax by providing good support to the trunk and limbs affected.
- When moving a limb or opening a tight hand, use slow supported movements.
- Reduce anxieties by offering reassurance and avoiding surprises by preparing a person for movement with explanations.
- Ensure the patient is wearing comfortable clothing.
- Check they have comfortable and supportive footwear.
- Consider specific medications to reduce spasticity.
