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Reducing Spasticity
Using a hot tub daily for 15–20 minutes is recommended to help reduce spasticity. What else can help?
Several types of electrical stimulation devices offer varied treatment approaches, though research specifically targeting HSP remains limited. If you'd rather not wait for years for HSP-specific studies, here are some devices that have worked for me — I have SPG4. Perhaps they could work for you, too.
How did I find them? My Doctor of Physical Therapy at a neuro physical therapy clinic is both brilliant and compassionate. She stays current on the research behind each of these devices and was willing to try them "off-label" with me. I want to share these positive results with you, in the hope that you might explore a similar trial at your neuro physical therapy clinic, and find some spasticity relief also.
These electrical stimulation devices are FDA-cleared for spasticity reduction.
These electrical stimulation devices are FDA-cleared for spasticity reduction.
TENS device w/EMS and Relax mode
TENS device w/EMS and Relax mode
Using a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) device, such as the Neocarbon can gently relieve spastic muscle pain and enhance workout recovery. The Relax mode feels like a gentle massage.
The Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) feature is the most economic avenue for muscle building/maintaining. Apply the pads to specific muscles and workout in EMS mode for a fraction of the time of a regular workout. Doing this, can save time (workout is shorter) and money (over more expensive electro stimulation devices). However, wear light clothing over the pads/cables during your workouts so the cables stay out of your way. $60.
If, however, you want a device with the pads already in place with different types of stimulation and better results, read about the the Cionic Neural Sleeve.
The new Cionic Neural Sleeve 2 is the only FDA-cleared system to improve walking by simultaneously activating functional muscle stimulation (FES) and Articifial Intelligence (AI) to relax muscle spasms. In trials of the Neural Sleeve 2, participants reported a 30% improvement of spasticity, and 94% of participants showed improvement in gait.
This technology improves ankle dorsiflexion at heel strike, ankle inversion during swing, as well as knee flexion and extension, to support your body through a full gait cycle.
Its Sensory+ mode provides smart, continuous stimulation for quads, hamstrings, shin, and calf muscles. After you have been sitting for a while using Sensory+, you can get up and walk around with ease and not need to take time for stiff legs to adjust.
One sleeve is $300 down payment & $275 monthly. Use referral code CGFF for $100 off your down. If you purchase 2 sleeves ($500 down, 475/mo), then you would get $200 off with the referral code.
Restore Functioning with NMES (Neuromuscular Electro Stimulation)
NMES is primarily a therapeutic modality, focused on restoring function, preventing muscle atrophy, improving circulation, and activating specific muscles using carefully controlled and precise parameters. Low levels of NMES/FES have also been shown to help clear some lactic acid.
This Chattanooga 2600 Continuum is FDA approved to deliver a stronger NMES (Neuromuscular Electro Stimulation) than what a TENS unit can provide with EMS (Electro Muscular Stimulation). During use, Chattanooga provides 13 preprogrammed and 2 custom regimens for NMES and TENS. The muscle stimulation provides a powerful and comfortalbe activation of muscles so they shake slightly. Your DPT (Dr. of Physical Therapy) can use the Chattanooga during therapy and you can see and feel it working. When restoring muscle function is your goal, this Chattanooga device can be used during exercise to activate and re-educate muscles. Your DPT may establish usage for a home routine. The kit is $367. Other lower quality devices are on Amazon, but they don't have these configurations, the research, nor FDA approval. $368
Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSCS) is designed to restore the circuitry of the spinal cord to improve limb strength and sensation in the ARC Ex.
ARC Ex is the first electro stimulation that is FDA approved (2024) for people with spinal cord injury. Electrodes are placed on the back to deliver targeted electrical stimulation to the spinal cord, helping amplify signals from the brain to the body that may be weakened or interrupted. Unlike surface muscle stimulators, ARC Ex is programmed to stimulate specific regions of the spinal cord, activating multiple muscle groups simultaneously for more natural recruitment, improved motor control, and reduced fatigue. Click the image on the left to see the ARC Ex video.
ARC Ex is used alongside task-specific therapy to support neuroplasticity and functional gains. Although 'reduced spasticity' was not part of their original intended outcomes, it was observed during the study trial. Participants received ARC Ex sessions 3 times a week combined with PT and at home follow-up, and some spinal cord recovery was achieved. The study was published in Nature Medicine.
While the study focused on upper body mobility, I personally experienced improvements in my lower body. After a 45 minute session with my Neuro PT, my back pain and leg spasticity were significantly reduced for 3+ hours. On the treadmill, I was able to jog, my foot drop improved, and my stance width was wider and more stable with flatter feet. I use ARC Ex weekly and get the 3+ hours of spasticity relief each time. ARC-EX is recommended by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and was Time's best invention of 2024. Ask your Neuro PT clinic if they have ARC Ex, because it was effective for me, and may help you. The home version of ARC Ex costs $29,150.
Move with ease? Yes, please!
The Ottobock Exopulse Mollii Suit uses electrical stimulation to relieve spasticity over the entire body.
Ottobock's Exopulse Mollii Suit
The Ottobock Exopulse Mollii Suit was designed for individuals with neurological conditions who experience spasticity, muscle tightness, weak muscle activation, and related pain. Since 2012, the Mollii suit has been shown to reduce spasticity, lessen pain, and improve mobility without taking medications.
Watch Louisa (with MS) in these side-by-side recordings of her walking before and after wearing the Mollii suit for one hour. Louisa's results were remarkable, and she went on to become an ideal candidate for the Mollii suit.
Electrode Placement and Strength
Electrode Placement and Strength
The physiotherapist evaluates your body’s spasticity before and after the one-hour treatment. They observe your walking pattern and have you perform three exercises. The Mollii has 58 electrodes that deliver Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). The electrodes are individually programmed to stimulate the antagonistic muscles which help reduce spasticity and pain. Results can often be noticed immediately after one hour of use. Post-treatment observations are completed, allowing you to draw your own conclusions about the results. Then, you may decide about a two-week trial.
My Mollii Suit Experience
My Mollii Suit Experience
I wear the Mollii suit for one hour every other day to help lessen spasticity. It allows my HSP body to move with less pain and greater fluidity and has been especially effective for reducing spasticity on my superficial muscles. Although, I can’t wait to use it again, my results were not nearly as noticable as Louisa's in the YouTube video above. The Mollii suit must be used in conjunction with regular Neuro Physical Therapy. This helps retrain the body to move correctly, gain stability, and increase muscle strengthening. By regularly using the Mollii combined with exercises at Neuro PT and at home, I can feel myself making these gains. A drawback is that it does not plug- in to charge, so I use rechargeable batteries.
The Mollii suit is in the FDA approval process, in the USA. The reasonable option is to wait for this federal approval. Recently, I was told by an Ottobock representative in Canada, that Mollii may be introduced to the Canadian market likely in 2028/2029. Check the Ottobock website to find Mollii locations across Europe, Australia, South America etc.
Perhaps, if you already have travel plans to visit a foreign country that sells the Mollii suit, partaking in a '2-week trial' could potentially be an option. If the trial is successful, then purchasing Mollii is an option- but it is complicated. While this isn’t a realistic path for most, at least knowing about the Mollii suit may help keep your future options open. I got my Mollii suit from a small distributor in Ireland. There is a new Mollii suit which has a plug-in battery and a user app to control the electrode settings. The new Mollii suit is only sold via Ottobock and not at small distributors any longer. Cost for the old suit 2025: 2-week Trial €200, Suit €7,318.
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