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Spasticity after stroke: Physiology, assessment and treatment

2013/07/25 by Aurore Thibaut, Camille Chatelle, Erik Ziegler +4
Medicine · Neuroscience · #Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders #Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery #Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

paper · doi:10.3109/02699052.2013.804202

openalex publication_date 2013/07/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spasticity following a stroke occurs in about 30% of patients. The mechanisms underlying this disorder, however, are not well understood. METHOD: This review aims to define spasticity, describe hypotheses explaining its development after a stroke, give an overview of related neuroimaging studies as well as a description of the most common scales used to quantify the degree of spasticity and finally explore which treatments are currently being used to treat this disorder. RESULTS: The lack of consensus is highlighted on the basis of spasticity and the associated absence of guidelines for treatment, use of drugs and rehabilitation programmes. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies require controlled protocols to determine the efficiency of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for spasticity. Neuroimaging may help predict the occurrence of spasticity and could provide insight into its neurological basis.

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