Lecture 10 Flashcards
Lower motor neuron lesions AND acute CNS lesions can cause ___________
Hypotonia/flaccidity
Chronic upper motor neuron lesions will cause…
Hypertonia/spasticity
The lack of inhibition of which tracts causes hypertonicity (spacticity), when impacted by an upper motor neuron lesion?
Reticulospinal and corticospinal
Normal muscle rigidity : Resistance to passive mvmt is ____________ no matter how fast/slow you try to move the body part
Resistance to passive mvmt is constant no matter how fast/slow you try to move the body part
Some basal ganglia disorders can cause cogwheel rigidity, which is….
When passive movements of a muscle trigger start-stop ratchet-like rigidity
Gegenhalten
Resistance to passive stretch that remains constant no matter how fast/slow you move it
Identify
Decerebrate
Remember more “E”s in the word for extension
Damage between brainstem and the midbrain/pons
Identify
Decorticate
Damage to superior midbrain or severe B lesions of cortex
Spasticity definition
intermittent or sustained involuntary hyperactivity of a skeletal muscle associated with an upper motor neuron lesion
Normal progression of UMN lesion:
Spinal Shock (flaccidity) -> spasticity
What are the 2 hallmarks of spasticity?
Increased velocity dependent muscle tone
Tendon jerk (deep tendon reflex - DTR) hyperreflexia
Clonus definition
Repetitive reflex contraction of single muscle
Can be sustained or unsustained
What is the clasp-knife phenomenon
an initial resistance when attempting passive movement of the extremities, followed by a rapid decrease in resistance. Indicates UMN lesion
Biomechanical factors of spasticity
Changing viscoelasticity of muscle
Muscles and tendons become stiff
Reduced # of sarcomeres in proportion to reduced length in chronic stages
HIGH risk of contractures
PROM and/or AROM may still remain normal if no fixed shortening or contracture
Weak ________ binding can contribute to spasticity
Actin-Myosin