Back to home

Why do my arms and legs feel stiff or jerk after spinal cord injury?

Updated by SGH-AHPEDIA
After spinal cord injury, you may experience spasticity. When a muscle is stretched quickly, the stretch reflex is activated and causes muscles to tense up. After spinal cord injury, the spinal cord is no longer able to properly send or control signals between your brain and body to calm down the reflexes resulting in spasticity. Without this control, the reflexes become overactive, which causes the muscles to tighten too much or suddenly contract. Stiffness can also be a result of decreased mobility. Physiotherapy can help you to maintain good muscle length by through stretching or positioning, strategies to avoid triggering spasms, movement and strengthening routines to keep muscles active and working alongside your doctor if medication or other treatments are needed to control spasticity.

Topics:

PhysiotherapySpinal Cord Injury

Need more help?

Describe your issues to us.

Contact us