Hypertonicity vs spasticity
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Hypertonicity or spastic dystonia[edit | edit source]
Hypertonicity or spastic dystonia is a continuous increase in the muscle tension without regard to the movement being performed. It is dependent upon afferent information from feedback following movements of stretch. Decorticate and decerbrate rigidity are a form of spastic dystonia. Spastic dystonia is considered to be a form of sustained efferent muscular hyperactivity, dependent on continuous supraspinal drive to the alpha motor neuron. [1]
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Spasticity[edit | edit source]
Spasticity is a velocity-dependent increase in muscle tone in response to passive movement. Pyramidal tract injury doesn't give rise to spasticity. Rather, the main symptoms are weakness and loss of dexterity which is greater in distal than in the proximal muscles. The pyramidal tract is the system which balances muscle tone.
| [2] |
Neural Component of Spasticity[edit | edit source]
- Dorsoreticulospinal tract (DRT) - has an inhibitory effect on MRT and VST
- Medial reticulospinal tract (MRT) and Vestibulospinal tract (VST) - have a facilitatory effect on extensor tone.
All three systems are thought to inhibit flexor reflex afferents responsible for flexor spasm.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Clinical evaluation and management of spasticity, Jeffery et. al.2002
- ↑ brezzyana4's channel. Spastic Diplegia (Cerebral Palsy) 17 months old. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-CV6dYNXsw [last accessed 29/08/16]
