I want to learn about spasticity and muscle spasms
It is great to have you here! Before we dive into the science of how muscles stiffen and twitch, I would love to learn a little bit more about what brings you to this topic today.
I am studying this for a medical/professional course
It is great to have you here! Since you are preparing for a medical or professional course, we will focus on precise clinical definitions and the physiological mechanisms behind these motor symptoms.
Let us look at our learning path for this session so we can map out exactly where we are heading.
Your path
Causes and Triggers
Management and Treatment Approaches
When to See a Doctor
Defining Muscle Spasticity
To kick off our first topic, let us establish what actually is from a clinical perspective.
Physiologically, spasticity is defined as a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (often referred to as ). This means that the faster or more vigorously you try to passive-stretch or move the affected limb, the more resistance and tightness you will encounter in the muscle.