2010.03.10 - Milan Dimitrijevic - Pathophysiology leading to a definition of spasticity

In spastic patients the tendon jerk reflex is exaggerated
Withdrawal reflex habituates over time. Habituates faster to "faster stimuli".
Frequency of stimuli can change the magnitude of rhythmic response and the physical behavior
Zapping at high frequency (10V, 70 Hz) it is possible to inhibit rhythmic EMG activity
Spasticity is defined as impaired control of muscle tone and movement due to altered descending brain input to the spinal cord.
There is a difficulty in the literature that people want to "paralyze" spastic subjects, but since it is probably the lack of descending input that causes this problem it may not be such a good idea.