PHTY302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Spasticity, Stretch Reflex, Contracture
Document Summary
Primary impairments following stroke: positive additional features. Can be due to contracture, spasticity, excessive muscle activity. Dystonias: negative loss of pre-existing function. Loss of strength inability to produce force. Loss coordination muscle acitivty to meet environmental demands. Activity limitations are due to weakness of the agonist muscle, not excessive antagonist activity: 2. Spasticity does not have a strong association with activity limitations after stroke: 3. Activity limitations are not improved with reduction of spasticity. Comparing contribution of negative impairments to activity: current evidence, negative impairments make the greatest contribution to activity limitations, of the negative impairments. Loss of strength has the strongest and most consistent relationship with activity limitations. Over 50 descriptive studies showing strong correlation between strength and activity after stroke. Dexterity/co-ordination contributed to function only at 3 and 5 wks. Strength always made a significant contribution to function.
