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Many people are affected by spasticity, a condition that causes the muscles to contract involuntarily. This can lead to pain, discomfort, and difficulty with everyday activities. Spastic hand treatment can help to reduce the symptoms of spasticity and improve function. Book an appointment with Dr. Nilesh Satbhai today.
Spastic hand refers to a condition in which the muscles of the hand stiffen or tighten, thus preventing normal fluid movement. As a result, the muscles remain contracted and resist being stretched, thus affecting movement. Spastic hand generally occurs due to damage or disruption to the brain, and the spinal cord is responsible for controlling the muscle and the stretch reflexes.
These changes can occur due to differences in the concentration of inhibitory and excitatory signals sent to the muscles causing them to tighten. Spasticity can harm growing children as it can affect the joints and muscles. In addition, people with brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis can have varying degrees of spasticity.
Symptoms of spasticity in the hand can range from mild stiffness or muscle tightening to painful and uncontrollable spasms. Pain is a commonly experienced symptom in people with a spastic hand. Muscle stiffness leads to limitations in the range of movements and makes specific tasks challenging to perform. In addition, some people complain of muscle spasms which lead to uncontrollable and often painful muscle contractions. Some of the other symptoms that may be seen in people who have spasticity of the hand are:-
Spastic hand treatment refers to the various ways in which the spasticity of the hand can be managed. The goals of treatment are to reduce the symptoms of spasticity, improve function, and prevent complications. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to spasticity management, as the condition varies greatly from person to person. The type of treatment that is recommended will depend on the severity of the condition, as well as the individual’s goals and preferences.
A good candidate for spastic hand treatment is someone who:
It is essential to get medical attention when spasticity is noticed for the first time with no known cause. It should be taken seriously when the spasticity worsens and becomes more frequent. Prolonged and untreated spasticity can give rise to frozen joints and pressure sores on the skin, which is very painful. Expert advice is needed when the pain in the joints and muscles prevents you from performing everyday tasks.
Request AppointmentDue to varying degrees of spasticity, diagnosis of this condition becomes challenging. During the consultation, Dr. Nilesh Satbhai will perform a physical examination, along with neurological testing to test for spasticity and the extent of damage to the joints. In addition, some imaging studies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered to provide more information on the source of spasticity and the extent of damage caused by it.
Dr. Nilesh Satbhai will design a customized treatment plan for you, depending on the severity of your condition.
Several treatment options are available for treating spasticity. Therefore, patients usually undergo more than one type of treatment to treat this condition. The following treatments have been shown to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life effectively. Some of the treatment options for spastic hand are:-
Exercises that focus on small muscle groups to improve strength and coordination can be done to improve the performance of the daily tasks. Rehabilitation exercise is an effective way to treat spasticity of the hand. When one practices therapeutic movements with the hand, it rewires the nervous system and improves the communication between the brain and muscle. This rewiring process is otherwise known as neuroplasticity. Developing neuroplasticity may take time and effort, but recovery is possible through this. To develop neuroplasticity, repetitive practice of hand spasticity exercises is required. Although rehabilitation exercises are an excellent treatment option for hand spasticity, they are not accessible to everyone. If one has severe spasticity, one may need to spend some time stretching to allow the hand to remain in an open position before exercise.
Stretching the hand multiple times is essential for treating spasticity in the hand. An occupational therapist can help in finding a proper splint that can help to prop the hand open for extended periods. Spasticity is a velocity-dependent condition. This implies that the faster you stretch the affected muscles, the stronger they contract. Therefore, stretching the hand slowly, gently, and never to the point of pain is essential. Even if only the fingers are affected by spasticity, the position of the wrist should be kept in mind while stretching. This is mainly because the muscles responsible for flexing and extending the fingers are in the forearm. Applying a splint or brace can help prevent involuntary spasms and reduce the tightness of the muscles.
During this treatment, electrical stimulation is applied to specific muscles to make the fingers move. However, before beginning electrical stimulation, it must be kept in mind that it can cause skin tissue injury. Electrical stimulation works best when it is combined with rehabilitation exercise.
Oral medicines can be used along with other therapies like physical and occupational therapy. Oral medicines should be used only when the symptoms interfere with daily activities or sleep.
Botox injections paralyze the spastic muscles, thus preventing them from contracting. In small amounts, Botox is injected carefully into selected sites depending on the pattern of spasticity. Botox injections can last for 12-16 weeks. But due to the nervous system’s plasticity, new nerve endings form, and the muscle is no longer inhibited by Botox. Additionally, while Botox is helpful, only a limited number of injections can be given.
If spasticity of the hand is not only affecting your hand but also your quality of life, Dr. Nilesh Satbhai may recommend this option. Hand surgery is considered once other options have been exhausted. Hand surgery is a subspecialty of surgery that focuses on disorders of the hand. Hand surgeons have expert knowledge in the function and anatomy of the hand, which they use to treat various hand disorders. Hand surgery may be performed to restore lost function or alleviate pain. Typically, reconstructive and microsurgical procedures are required for successful hand surgery. Learn about hand surgery in more detail here .
It is usually advisable to combine the different therapies, especially when hand spasticity is severe. When hand spasticity is mild, stretching exercises along with hand therapy exercises can be done once a day.
The cost of spastic hand treatment in Mumbai will vary depending on the cause and severity of spasticity, as well as the type of spastic hand treatment performed. Dr. Nilesh Satbhai will provide you with a detailed estimate of the cost of your spastic hand treatment during your consultation.
Request AppointmentThe benefits of spastic hand treatment include:
Patients should follow up with Dr. Nilesh Satbhai regularly to treat their condition appropriately, especially for invasive procedures like hand surgery.
Dr. Nilesh Satbhai is a renowned surgeon with many years of experience treating hand spasticity by formulating a combination of therapies. If you or someone you know is struggling with a spastic hand, then consult Dr. Nilesh Satbhai at Mumbai for the best results.
MBBS, MS, MCh
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