Overview of Treatments

Physical therapy, surgery, and pharmacotherapy including neurolysis are among the most common treatment options currently employed to manage spasticity in SCI. Physical therapy is initiated during rehabilitation and usually continues post-discharge either formally or through individual education and caregiver administration. Pharmacotherapies are thought to be the most efficacious for treatment of the velocity-dependent increase in hyperexcitable tonic stretch reflexes, one component of the upper motor neuron syndrome defined by Lance (1980). Surgery and neurolysis may be appropriate choices to treat focal spasticity. A combination treatment regimen can be individualized and appears to be a common approach in clinical practice.