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Ataxia
Bradykinesia
Choreoathetosis
Corticobasal Degeneration
Dyskinesias (Paroxysmal)
Dystonia
Essential Tremor
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Huntington's Disease
Multiple System Atrophy
Myoclonus
Parkinson's Disease
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Restless Legs Syndrome
Rett Syndrome
Spasticity
Sydenham's Chorea
Tardive Dyskinesia
Tics
Tourette's Syndrome
Tremor
Wilson Disease
 

Conventional Rehabilitation

Stretching forms the basis of conventional rehabilitation for the treatment of spasticity. Stretching helps to maintain range of motion of a joint and helps prevent contracture. To be effective, the prescribed stretching routine must be done regularly, usually once or twice a day.

Spasticity often leads to loss of strength in both the spastic muscles and surrounding muscles. Strengthening exercises are aimed at restoring the proper level of strength to affected muscles so that, as tone is reduced through other treatments, the affected limb can be used to its fullest potential.

Proper limb positioning improves comfort and reduces spasticity. Proper positioning is important whether the patient is lying in bed or sitting in a chair or wheelchair. Support should be provided as necessary to ensure patient comfort and appropriate position and posture; however, too much support may allow the patient to become passive in maintaining optimum posture and dependent upon the device. Factors that should be taken into account when positioning include the patient's ability to tolerate positions and underlying medical conditions that may have an impact on position. Positioning should allow for the patient's maximum ability to interact with his or her environment. Other issues that must be taken into account include the patient's physical stamina, ability to move, and capacity to achieve functional goals, as well as the cost and ease of use of positioning devices. To the extent possible, patients should be positioned in a balanced or symmetrical manner with a midline orientation. Patients should be seated with the hip, knee, and ankle flexed to 90¡. Weight should be evenly distributed over the buttocks, and the head, trunk and arms should be supported as necessary to maintain this alignment. Because of their ease of use and low cost, premanufactured positioning devices should be used when possible; however, custom devices may be necessary to achieve optimum positioning. A variety of devices may be used to maintain upper-body alignment. Patients with spasticity should not use reclining chairs that open at the hips or have elevated leg rests. The side-lying position is usually the best and most comfortable position for people with spasticity when they are in bed; however, this position may be difficult to maintain, and foam blocks or beanbags may be needed.