Espasticidad después de la lesión medular: revisión de los mecanismos fisiopatológicos, técnicas de diagnóstico y tratamientos fisioterapéuticos actuales

Spasticity is a sensorimotor disorder that develops in about 70% of patients with spinal cord injury. Spasticity is mainly defined as an increase in tonic reflexes, an increase in muscle tone and presence of spasms. Although its pathophysiology has not been clearly defined, it is believed to be caused by a reduction in spinal neuronal inhibition mechanisms, associated with descending pathways or with specific segmental modulatory circuits in addition to changes in the intrinsic motorneuron and passive muscle properties. Physiotherapy is the first treatment option and plays an important role in the management of this neuropathology. The purpose of this review is to provide the therapists with up-dated current information regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with spasticity, existing diagnostic methods and the available physiotherapeutic techniques for its management.