title: Spasticity after stroke: physiology, assessment and treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spasticity following a stroke occurs in about 30% of patients. The mechanisms underlying this disorder, however, are not well understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review aims to define spasticity, describe hypotheses explaining its development after a stroke, give an overview of related neuroimaging studies as well as a description of the most common scales used to quantify the degree of spasticity and finally explore which treatments are currently being used to treat this disorder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lack of consensus is highlighted on the basis of spasticity and the associated absence of guidelines for treatment, use of drugs and rehabilitation programmes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies require controlled protocols to determine the efficiency of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for spasticity. Neuroimaging may help predict the occurrence of spasticity and could provide insight into its neurological basis.
authors.affiliation: Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium. athibaut@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thibaut
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chatelle
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Marie-Aurélie
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laureys
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gosseries
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D009407:Nerve Block; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A