title: Understanding spasticity from patients' perspectives over time.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper was to report patients' understanding and perceptions of personal spasticity experiences over time.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Spasticity is an unpleasant and poorly understood experience associated with upper motor neuron disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  An original qualitative study was conducted in 2008-2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis was used to extract meaning from the responses of 23 patients to semi-structured interviews during 7 days of acute rehabilitation for neurological diseases associated with spasticity. Findings.  Patients used words reflecting muscle tone and spasms to describe spasticity. Themes reflecting the spasticity experience over time were Ambiguous Experiences, Navigating Symptom Experience, Wounded Self, and Unending Journey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spasticity as experienced is complex, involving a wide range of unusual sensations sensitive to stressors in everyday life. Clinical evaluation of spasticity should include patient reports. Knowledge about patient word choice used to describe spasticity can enhance communication with healthcare providers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, St Catherine University, Saint Paul, MN, USA. rhbhimani@stkate.edu
authors.forename: Rozina H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bhimani
authors.forename: Cynthia Peden
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McAlpine
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Henly
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012649:Self Concept; D012677:Sensation; D012917:Social Adjustment; D057545:Social Stigma