Our Services - Spasticity Evaluation and Treatment Center

What is Spasticity?

Spasticity is a term that describes muscles that have too much tone or stiffness. It is caused by an injury to the brain or spinal cord, preventing the brain from sending signals to tell the muscle to relax.

Dystonia describes muscles that have tone that varies depending on what the child is doing. Muscles often become very stiff when movement is attempted, causing poor coordination and difficulty moving.

Spasticity and dystonia are seen in children with many different disorders, but cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury are the most common. Although these conditions cannot be cured, many treatments are available. These may help a child to have more function, be more comfortable, and make caring for the child easier.

What Happens During a Spasticity Evaluation?

Spasticity evaluations at the Kirch Center are conducted by a team of professionals with expertise in spasticity and developmental disabilities. A team approach is necessary since spasticity affects many different parts of the body; its management can be complex and include many treatment options. As each member of the team assesses a child, he or she pays special attention to different areas of the body or functional abilities. The team may include:

Considerations of the Evaluation Team:

Contact Us

For more information about spasticity management or any of our other services, to make an appointment, or to request services, call our intake coordinator at 275-2986.

In an intake interview, we will ask you for some information about your child, as well as for insurance information. We will also ask you to obtain a referral to one of the physicians at the Andrew J. Kirch Developmental Services Center from your child’s Primary Care Physician, and to gather medical records prior to your first appointment.