The CRME provides ultra-specialized services that respond to very complex or rare needs thanks to highly qualified experts and special screening equipment. These services are provided upon referral from other physical rehabilitation centres.
Definition
Spasticity can be described as involuntary muscle contractions or exaggerated muscle tone that result in spasms. Spasticity can be more precisely defined as an increase in muscle contraction responses to the stretch reflex. This definition is based on the hyperexcitability of afferent IA fibers with clinical evidence of resistance to muscle flexion. This type of spasticity is characterized as spasticity of the stretch reflex (1).
Spasticity is a symptom that appears in people who have cerebral lesions (ex: cerebral palsy) or medullary of multiple origins. This type of spasticity is most often found in a complex range of associated neurological sensory or motor deficits, cognitive disorders or various functional impairments. Pain can also be one of the symptoms whether or not it is related to spasticity.
Muscular contracture is one of the most common complications of cerebral palsy that generally appears in children. Normally, muscle growth occurs along with bone growth; however children with cerebral palsy tend to not use members that have been affected or that lack coordination, causing the muscles to atrophy. This slows down muscle growth compared to bone growth, provoking articular flexion and contracture. At this stage, surgery is generally necessary to remedy the problem.