Spasticity Management in Long-Term Care (LTC)

Long term care for chronic spinal cord injury involves managing complications, maintaining function, and coordinating multidisciplinary follow-up. One complication from spinal cord injuries is spasticity. Results from one study at a nursing home suggested that spasticity itself was common in nursing homes, underdiagnosed and undertreated, and associated with worse ADL dependency (Gill). Poor control leads to contractures, pain, decreased mobility, and poor quality of life. Once identified, there are interventions that can be utilized with varying degrees of recommendations from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to help improve symptoms, functionality, and quality of life.