Do stroke and spinal cord injury share similar causes for spasticity?
Spasticity is a condition where muscles become stiff and tight due to damage to the central nervous system. Both stroke and spinal cord injury are types of central nervous system injuries that can lead to this condition. Research suggests that the pathophysiology, or the biological cause, of spasticity is very similar in these two groups because it stems from the same type of injury mechanism: damage to the upper motor neurons.
What the research says
Spasticity occurs after injuries to the central nervous system, such as stroke or spinal cord injury. It does not appear immediately but develops over days or weeks as a result of maladaptive changes in the nervous system 4. These changes are driven by neuroplastic alterations, which are the brain and spinal cord's way of rewiring after damage 4.
Studies indicate that plastic changes in the brainstem reticular formation may be involved in the onset of spasticity for both stroke and spinal cord injury patients 4. This finding highlights a shared mechanism where the nervous system reorganizes in ways that lead to increased muscle tone and stiffness in both conditions 4. Additionally, muscle cramps and spasms, which are often part of spasticity, likely share a common pathophysiological component across different upper motor neuron disorders like stroke and spinal cord injury 5.
The clinical experience also supports these similarities. Patients with stroke and spinal cord injury face similar barriers and facilitators to physical activity, and they experience comparable impairments in body functions and structures related to spasticity 6. This suggests that the functional impact and the underlying physical limitations caused by spasticity are consistent across these different types of injuries.
What to ask your doctor
- How do my specific injury type (stroke or spinal cord injury) and the location of the damage affect my risk for developing spasticity?
- What maladaptive changes in my nervous system might be contributing to my current muscle stiffness?
- Are there treatments that address the shared underlying mechanisms of spasticity for both stroke and spinal cord injury?
- How can we manage the plastic changes in my brainstem or spinal cord to reduce spasticity symptoms?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Neurology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.