Therapeutic approaches for spinal cord injury induced spasticity.

Spasticity is evident in both humans and animals following spinal cord injury (SCI) and can contribute to significant functional limitation and disruption in quality of life of patients with this disorder. This mini-review describes a number of preclinical and clinical studies that promise to improve outcomes for, especially in terms of spasticity and hyper-reflexia, patients with SCI. A gold standard for the quantification of spasticity has proved elusive, but the combination of H-reflex frequency dependent depression and a novel stretch reflex (SR) windup protocol have the potential to provide new insights. As the pathophysiology of hyper-reflexia and spasticity continue to be investigated, the documented onset in the animal model of SCI provides critical time points for further study into these complex mechanisms. The positive effects of a passive exercise protocol and several potential pharmacological interventions are reviewed as well as a novel potential mechanism of action. Further work is needed to determine additional mechanisms that are involved in SCI, and how to optimize multiple therapies to overcome some of the deficits induced by SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]