Spasticity

Disclaimer: This information sheet is for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

What is Spasticity?

Spasticity is a word used to describe stiffness that occurs in children's muscles when there has been damage to nerves in the brain or spinal cord. Causes for this include cerebral palsy, spinal injury, brain injury, and other neurological conditions. Spasticity can lead to muscle shortening (contractures), spasms, and changes in development and shape of bones and joints, and limitation of functional abilities. Spasticity can also make caring for the child more difficult for the caregiver.

Managing spasticity in children and adolescents requires specialised coordinated paediatric care. This is particularly important in children, because as they grow, the effects of the spasticity may change. The spasticity management program at the Children's Hospital at Westmead involves a team of paediatric rehabilitation doctors, specialised nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, in conjunction with neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons. Together they provide assessment and treatment for children with spasticity, as well as conducting research and education programs for parents and health professionals.

Treatment and assessment involves measuring the amount and impact of spasticity, the age and developmental level of the child, aggravating factors, and the child's underlying strength and control of their muscles. The team can then decide on appropriate therapies, taking into consideration the family's preferences and needs.

Some of the treatment options for the management of spasticity are listed below. There are separate fact sheets, giving more information, available for several of these treatments:

• Casting and Orthotics (splints)
• Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Oral antispasticity medications
• Botulinum Toxin
• Intrathecal Baclofen
• Orthopaedic Surgery (to treat the effects of spasticity)

Some children do not require treatment for their spasticity, while others may benefit from one or more of the treatments listed above. You can discuss these with members of the team, whose numbers are listed below. The clinics where children are assessed include the Physical Disability Clinic, Botulinum Toxin Clinic, and the Muscle Management Rehabilitation Program Clinic. These clinics are held in the Child Assessment Centre, level 3 of the Children's Hospital at Westmead.

For more information about treatment of Spasticity please refer to links below:

• Botulinum Toxin Injections
• Intrathecal Baclofen
• Oral Baclofen

Rehabilitation Department The Children's Hospital at Westmead Cnr Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, Westmead Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, 2145 Tel: (02) 9845 2132 - Fax: (02) 9845 0685 http://www.chw.edu.au/rehabilitation/