Spacticity Clinic

What is Spasticity?

Spasticity occurs in many individuals following stroke and is a muscle control disorder characterized by tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. Spasticity is caused by an imbalance of signals from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the muscles, and is commonly found among people who have suffered a stroke or other brain injury, as well as cerebral palsy and spine injuries.

Treatment Options

The INI Stroke Center provides appropriate patients with possible treatment options, including oral medications, botox injections and baclofen pump implantation. During the patient's visit to the Stroke Center, physicians discuss the options available and help the patient and their family choose the appropriate treatment(s). 

  • Botox injections to affected spastic muscles are provided in the clinic by the physician or advanced practice nurse.
  • Baclofen pump treatment requires collaboration with a neurosurgeon for implantation of the pump.The patient has an initial trial with the medication dispensed by the pump, usually requiring a hospital stay of less than 24 hours. If successful, pump placement is scheduled. This usually requires an overnight hospital stay.

With all spasticity treatments, appropriate therapies are essential to maximizing benefit. Following the initial treatment, patients return to the Stroke Center for ongoing monitoring and adjustment of medications.

The clinic is located on the 6th floor of the main hospital, and clinic visits are scheduled Monday through Thursday from 9AM-4PM.

 

Spacticity Clinic Team

Stroke Neurologists
David Wang. D.O.
Arun Talkad, M.D.

Stroke Advanced Practice Nurse
Maureen Mathews, APN, CNRN

Stroke Clinic Nurses
Christine Akers, MOA
Patricia Jatkowski, RN, CNRN
Patricia Waldschmidt, RN, CNRN

Research Coordinator
Judi Beck, RN, BS, CCR

 

For scheduling, call:

1-309-624-6267


Additional Resources:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/spasticity/spasticity.htm

http://www.americanheart.org/

http://www.stroke.org/site