Muscle spasticity can make life after stroke difficult.

In this article, the StrokeLine team covers what muscle spasticity is and what can help.

Messages travel back and forth between our brain and our muscles. These messages control how our muscles feel and move.

If the part of your brain that sends and receives these messages is injured by a stroke, you may develop muscle spasticity.

Muscle spasticity can make your muscles feel stiff and tight. Your muscles may not work the way you want them to. They may resist movement.

For example, you try to move your arm, but it doesn’t move easily, or as much as you expect. If someone tries to move your arm away from you, it may jerk back towards you in response. Your arm may also shake after movement.

Muscle spasticity can make it difficult to walk, affect your balance and increase your risk of falling. It can affect your ability to open your hand or reach for something. Moving may take more effort, making you more tired.

You may have a clenched fist or fingers, or a bent arm held against your chest. Spasticity can cause tightness in your knees or a pointed foot.

Muscle spasticity can cause contracture. Contracture is when muscles can become so tight that your joints have only limited movement. They may become fixed in one position. Contracture usually happens in hands, elbows, knees, or ankles. If spasticity is not treated, the risk of contracture is higher.

Allied health therapy

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy are allied health therapies that aim to improve movement and prevent other problems, including pain.

Your allied health therapist will recommend treatment specifically for you. This can include:

• Exercises to lengthen and strengthen your muscles.
• Casts to help stretch and lengthen tight muscles.
• Taping to improve movement.

Electrical stimulation can be used if you can’t move the affected area very much or at all. A machine sends electrical currents to your muscles to get them working.

Your therapists can also tell you about:

• Protecting the affected part of your body from injury.
• Different ways of doing things.
• Aids and equipment that will help.

Talk with your GP or StrokeLine (1800 787 653) about accessing allied health therapy for muscle spasticity.

Options include Medicare-subsidised sessions with a Chronic Disease Management Plan. If you are part of the NDIS or My Aged Care, talk with your provider about what you need.

Community-based rehabilitation may be a good option if:

• You need more than one type of allied health therapy.
• Your spasticity is getting worse.
• You have new goals.

Your GP can also refer you to a spasticity clinic for assessment and treatment.

If you’re unsure, get in touch with StrokeLine (1800 787 653) – we can work out the best option with you.

Medications

If you have severe muscle spasticity, your doctor may prescribe botulinum toxin A, which is injected into the affected muscles. It’s effective for about three months, giving you an opportunity to strengthen muscles and improve movement. Botulinum toxin A should always be combined with exercises set by your allied health therapist.

Talk with your doctor, physiotherapist and occupational therapist about any changes to your muscles.

If you need advice, get in touch with StrokeLine 1800 787 653 or email us at strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au . We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST