Who is Most Prone to Spasticity?
&srotate=0)
Spasticity is a result of nerve damage and can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, pain, and disruption in joint mobility. At Aether Medicine, our professional team works with patients throughout Wayne, PA who have spasticity or other neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. Board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Dr. Asare Christian develops neurotoxin medicine treatment plans to help meet his patients’ needs, alleviate pain, and foster a higher quality of life.
What is spasticity?
Spasticity refers to a condition where muscle tone becomes abnormally tight, restricting joint mobility. Spasticity is usually caused by damage to nerve pathways from the brain, which are responsible for movement. Depending on where the damage is located, spasticity can occur in any muscle group, including the shoulders, arms, hands, torso, legs, ankles, and feet. If left untreated, spasticity can lead to muscle atrophy, increased pain, skin breakdown, and decreased range of motion.
Who is most prone to spasticity?
Since spasticity occurs after nerve damage to the brain or spinal cord, the symptoms tend to show in individuals with neurological conditions, including:
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Stroke
At Aether Medicine, Dr. Christian treats each patient based on their unique symptoms and causes to alleviate and manage spasticity.
Can spasticity go away on its own?
Nerve damage tends to be irreversible in nature, which means properly diagnosed spasticity does not typically go away on its own. However, painful and limiting symptoms can be managed with:
- Therapeutic exercise
- Manual therapy and massage
- Therapeutic splinting or bracing
- Physical agent modalities (ice, hot packs, ultrasound, electrical stimulation)
- Neurotoxin medicine
Based on a thorough assessment of your personal history and current symptoms, Dr. Christian can help you develop a customized treatment plan that addresses your personal goals.
What is neurotoxin medicine?
Neurotoxin medicine is the application of botulinum toxin products, including;
- BOTOX®
- Dysport®
- XEOMIN®
- MYOBLOC®
The neurotoxin is safely injected into muscle tissue to send chemical signals to the brain to block or slow muscle contractions.
How does neurotoxin medicine work for spasticity?
Neurotoxin medicine, once injected into the muscle, slows or blocks muscle contractions. Since spasticity is a series of constant hyper contractions, neurotoxin medicine helps decrease muscle tone to promote healing and increase joint mobility. Dr. Christian skillfully injects neurotoxin medicine into specific muscle groups to produce the best results possible.
What other benefits does neurotoxin medicine provide?
Neurotoxin medicine comes with multiple benefits, including:
- Fast and easy treatments
- Quick and long-lasting results
- Treatment for a wide variety of neurological and musculoskeletal issues
How often should I receive neurotoxin injections?
Neurotoxin medicine results are temporary and generally last between 3 – 6 months. Dr. Christian will make recommendations for how often you should receive injections to maintain your treatment results during the initial consultation.
Learn more about spasticity and the benefits of neurotoxin medicine in Wayne, PA
If you reside in or near Wayne, PA, and would like to learn more about neurotoxin medicine for spasticity, contact our team at Aether Medicine and schedule an appointment today. Board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Dr. Asare Christian will work with you, assess your spasticity symptoms, and create a customized neurotoxin medicine plan that’s right for you.