Spasticity refers to muscles that are stiff, rigid or unusually tight. This can interfere with a child’s functional abilities such as walking, movement and speech. At CHOC Children’s, we have years of experience treating spasticity with a host of treatment options, including medication, injections, orthotics and surgery. Our Spasticity Clinic is the only program of its kind in Orange County, providing multispecialty evaluation and medical management of the condition. Our orthopaedic specialists work closely with other CHOC experts, including neurologists and neurosurgeons, as well as a child’s pediatrician and family to oversee a comprehensive treatment plan. The clinic is led by Dr. Samuel Rosenfeld, a nationally recognized expert in pediatric neuromuscular diseases.
About Spasticity
Spasticity can affect one extremity or all of them, one side of the body or both, or the entire body. If not treated, the increased contraction of a muscle may cause it shorten over time, and the spasticity will likely get worse. Spasticity may occur on its own or as a result of other conditions, including:
• Cerebral palsy
• Congenital brain deformities
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Hypoxic encephalopathy
• Spinal cord injuries
• Intra-uterine stroke
• Brain tumors
• Encephalitis and meningitis
Protecting a Child’s Bones
Children with spasticity are often deficient in calcium and vitamin D, which can result in bone loss. To prevent future pain and osteoarthritis, a supplement may be an important part of spasticity treatment. Read our recommendations for calcium and vitamin D supplements.
