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Kinesio Rehab Physiotherapy Centre
Glossary · Ipoh

What is spasticity?

The tight, stiff muscles that can follow a stroke, and what eases them.

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What is spasticity?

Spasticity is muscle tightness and stiffness that follows damage to the brain or spinal cord, for example after a stroke. The muscle resists being stretched, and the limb may be pulled into a bent or twisted position.

The person cannot relax it by trying. It is a change in how the nerves control the muscle, not a lack of effort.

Why does it matter?

It can make dressing, washing and positioning difficult, and it may cause pain or tiredness. Left alone, a tight limb can slowly lose movement, which leads to a contracture.

Spasticity also changes from day to day. Fatigue, pain, constipation, a urinary infection, a tight garment or a cold room can all make it worse.

An everyday example in Ipoh

Mr Ahmad had a stroke three months ago, and his left hand now stays in a fist and his arm presses against his side. His wife struggles to put his arm into a shirt.

We show her how to support the arm, open the hand slowly and dress the weaker arm first. We also check his chair and bed positions at home. If it is hard to control, we suggest he ask his doctor about other options.

Spasticity is part of the picture after hemiplegia, weakness on one side of the body. Our pages on stroke hand recovery and stroke shoulder pain cover common problems.

Read about stroke rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation to see how we plan care.

Questions people ask

Is spasticity the same as weakness?

No. A muscle can be weak and tight at the same time. Weakness is the loss of power, while spasticity is a stiffness that resists movement. Treatment is different for each, so we look at both.

Why does it get worse on some days?

It changes with tiredness, pain, constipation, a urinary infection, tight clothing or a cold room. If it suddenly becomes worse, check for these causes and tell the doctor, because a hidden problem may be behind it.

Does it mean the stroke is getting worse?

Not by itself. Spasticity usually shows up in the weeks or months after a stroke as the nerves recover in an uneven way. Sudden new weakness, confusion or speech trouble is different and needs emergency care.

Read next

Stroke rehabilitation, step by stepThe ward has sent you home, and the real work of getting movement back starts here.Neurological rehabilitation at home in IpohAfter a stroke or a nerve condition, practised movement helps your body find new ways to work.Getting the hand working after strokeThe hand is the part you watch most closely, and the slowest to answer.Shoulder pain after stroke: protect it earlyThe weak shoulder starts to ache, and you fear every move makes it worse.What is hemiplegia?Weakness or paralysis down one side of the body, commonly after a stroke.What is a contracture?A joint that has become stuck in a bent position, and how to prevent it.

Talk to a physiotherapist about your next step

If an arm or leg has become stiff since a stroke, tell us what you notice and where in Ipoh you live, and we will explain how a home visit would start.

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