DIAGNOSIS
The physician will do a physical exam and test your muscle movements to perceive how well you can control your arms, elbows, wrists, and hands. He will flex your joints to perceive how nimble they are. The doctor may request that you move your arms by yourself to perceive you can control them.
Tests that may be requested include electromyography, or EMG
TREATMENT
The objective of treatment for upper limb spasticity is to protect your muscles from getting stiff and give you more opportunity to move your arms. It’s imperative to get treatment so you can continue moving your muscles and prevent them from getting stiffer and increasingly painful.
Your physician will prescribe treatment depending on how stiff you are and the symptoms you have. There are a few options that may work for you, which may include the following:
- Exercisessuch as stretches
- Braces or splints
- OnabotulinumtoxinA and abobotulinumtoxinA
- Muscle relaxants
- Intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB)
- Nerve block injections
- Surgery