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Related Concept Videos

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll01:12

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...
Alterations in Muscle Tone lll01:11

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction01:24

Parkinson Disease l: Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview01:15

Parkinson's Disease: Overview

Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
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Huntington disease or HD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.PathophysiologyIt is caused by expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), producing an abnormal huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract. This misfolded protein disrupts cellular function, leading to neuronal death. Normal alleles have ≤26 repeats, 27–35 are intermediate (risk of expansion), 36–39 show reduced penetrance,...

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Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
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Published on: April 18, 2011

Spastic hypertonia and movement disorders: pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and quantification.

Geoffrey Sheean1, John R McGuire

  • 1University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. gsheean@ucsd.edu

PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation
|September 23, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Upper motor neuron lesions cause motor overactivity like spasticity due to spinal reflex hyperexcitability. Differentiating spasticity from other causes of hypertonia, like soft tissue stiffness, remains challenging in clinical settings.

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Method to Measure Tone of Axial and Proximal Muscle
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Method to Measure Tone of Axial and Proximal Muscle

Published on: December 14, 2011

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Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
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Method to Measure Tone of Axial and Proximal Muscle
10:41

Method to Measure Tone of Axial and Proximal Muscle

Published on: December 14, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Clinical Neurology

Background:

  • Upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions lead to delayed motor overactivity, including spasticity, often linked to spinal reflex hyperexcitability.
  • Spasticity, flexor spasms, and spastic co-contraction are common motor impairments following UMN damage.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying these motor changes, including spastic dystonia and hypertonia, are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the mechanisms of motor overactivity following UMN lesions.
  • To discuss the challenges in quantifying spasticity and differentiating it from other components of hypertonia.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on upper motor neuron syndrome and spasticity.
  • Discussion of the pathophysiology of various forms of motor overactivity.
  • Analysis of current clinical scales used for hypertonia quantification.

Main Results:

  • Motor overactivity results from spinal reflex hyperexcitability and potential changes in supraspinal pathways.
  • Spastic co-contraction arises from impaired reciprocal inhibition during voluntary movement.
  • Spastic dystonia involves tonic muscle contractions with unclear mechanisms.
  • Hypertonia in UMN syndrome is multifactorial, including spasticity, dystonia, and soft tissue stiffness.
  • Existing scales like Ashworth are limited in distinguishing spasticity from stiffness; Tardieu Scale offers better differentiation but clinical quantification remains difficult.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the mechanisms of UMN-induced motor overactivity is crucial for effective management.
  • Accurate quantification and differentiation of spasticity from other hypertonia components are essential for targeted interventions.
  • Further development of clinical assessment tools is needed to reliably measure spasticity.