How Occupational Therapy Works to Alleviate Spasticity

Spasticity is a challenging symptom that affects up to 60%-80% of patients living with multiple sclerosis (MS), and other conditions related to nerve damage. Symptoms tend to wax and wane, and vary from person to person. The additional energy needed to move around when your muscles are spastic is one of the main causes of fatigue. 

If you have spasticity, it’s crucial to work closely with a multidisciplinary team that includes a neurologist. At Neurology Specialists of Albuquerque, board-certified neurologist Timothy Ownbey, DO, specializes in diagnosing, treating and managing a full range of neurological diseases and disorders. 

Dr. Ownbey provides comprehensive care for patients with spasticity and is dedicated to helping patients effectively manage their symptoms to reduce the impact on their daily life.

How spasticity impacts daily life

Spasticity occurs when muscles involuntarily stiffen. This happens due to damage to the myelin, the fatty protecting coating surrounding nerves, which results in improper signal transfer from your brain to your muscles.

It can cause problems with balance, coordination, walking, and climbing stairs. When it comes to daily activities, spasticity can make it challenging to carry out daily tasks, such as dressing, writing, keyboarding, and eating. 

Although it’s more frequent in the lower extremities, spasticity can also affect the upper extremities, causing issues with the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands. 

In addition to MS, spasticity occurs in stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. Stress, high humidity, hot temperatures, and infections can worsen spasticity symptoms. 

How occupational therapy helps

Because spasticity disrupts your ability to do typically daily tasks, improving your ability to function is the primary goal of occupational therapy.

Some strategies involve learning new ways of doing things to work around spasticity, while others focus on strengthening and stretching spastic muscles. 

OT therapy begins with a comprehensive evaluation to understand your specific needs and challenges. This assessment forms the basis for a personalized treatment plan, focusing on improving functional abilities and reducing the effects of spasticity on your daily activities.

Stretching and strengthening exercises

Central to OT for spasticity are tailored stretching and strengthening exercises. Stretching exercises help maintain muscle length, reduce stiffness, and enhance mobility. 

On the other hand, strengthening exercises focus on weak muscles that might be compensating for spastic muscles. By improving overall muscle balance, these exercises can significantly reduce spasticity-related discomfort and limitations.

Activity modification and adaptive equipment

Occupational therapy not only works on physical improvement, but also teaches you how to modify activities and use adaptive equipment to manage spasticity. This might include special utensils for eating, adapted devices for dressing, or mobility aids. Such modifications ensure that you can perform daily tasks more independently and safely, enhancing your quality of life.

Education and self-management techniques

A critical component of OT is educating patients about self-management techniques for spasticity. This includes training in positioning, movement strategies, and the use of heat or cold therapy to manage symptoms. Educating family members and caregivers is also an integral part of the process, ensuring a supportive environment that reinforces the therapeutic strategies.

Integrating therapy into daily life

The ultimate goal of occupational therapy is to integrate the learned skills and strategies into your daily life. This ensures that the benefits of therapy extend beyond the clinical setting, promoting a more independent lifestyle.

If you or a loved one is living with spasticity, Dr. Ownbey can create a comprehensive treatment plan, and work together with occupational therapists to help you regain control and improve daily functioning. 

For comprehensive neurology care, contact us at Neurology Specialists of Albuquerque to schedule a visit with Dr. Ownbey.