Spasticity in children and young people

Short Text

Spasticity in children and young people with non-progressive brain disorders: management of spasticity and co-existing motor disorders and their early musculoskeletal complications

Introduction

This pathway covers the management of spasticity and co-existing motor disorders and their early musculoskeletal complications in children and young people (from birth up to their 19th birthday) with non-progressive brain disorders.
Cerebral palsy is the most common condition associated with spasticity in children and young people. The incidence of cerebral palsy is not known, but its prevalence in the UK is 186 per 100,000 population, with a total of 110,000 people affected. The guideline covers the management of spasticity associated with cerebral palsy, but not all aspects of the management of cerebral palsy.
The impact of spasticity and co-existing motor disorders and their early musculoskeletal complications on the child or young person varies. Common problems include impaired motor function affecting the person's ability to participate in society, pain from muscle spasms, motor developmental delay and difficulties with daily care due to the onset of secondary complications of spasticity. Management should be tailored to meet the problems faced by the individual child or young person and their individual goals.
There is considerable variation in practice in managing spasticity, including variation in the availability of treatments and the intensity of their use. This pathway will help healthcare professionals to select and use appropriate treatments for individual children and young people.

Source guidance

The NICE guidance that was used to create the pathway.
Spasticity in children and young people. NICE clinical guideline 145 (2012)

Quality standards

Quality statements

Effective interventions library

Successful effective interventions library details

Implementation

Commissioning

These resources include support for commissioners to plan for costs and savings of guidance implementation and meeting quality standards where they apply.
These resources will help to inform discussions with providers about the development of services and may include measurement and action planning tools.
Spasticity in children and young people: costing report

Pathway information

Information for the public

NICE produces information for the public that summarises, in plain English, the recommendations that NICE makes to healthcare and other professionals.
NICE has written information for the public explaining its guidance on:
Spasticity in children and young people

Patient-centred care

Patients and healthcare professionals have rights and responsibilities as set out in the NHS Constitution for England – all NICE guidance is written to reflect these. Treatment and care should take into account individual needs and preferences. People should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment, in partnership with their healthcare professionals. If someone does not have the capacity to make decisions, healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health's advice on consent, the code of practice that accompanies the Mental Capacity Act and the supplementary code of practice on deprivation of liberty safeguards. In Wales, healthcare professionals should follow advice on consent from the Welsh Government.
If the person is under 16, healthcare professionals should follow the guidelines in Seeking consent: working with children. If a young person is moving between paediatric and adult services their care should be planned and managed according to the best practice guidance described in the Department of Health's Transition: getting it right for young people.

Updates to this pathway

8 March 2013 Minor maintenance updates.

Supporting information

Following treatment with botulinum toxin type A, continuous pump-administered intrathecal baclofen, orthopaedic surgery or selective dorsal rhizotomy, provide an adapted physical therapy programme. Ensure that children and young people and their parents or carers understand that this programme is an essential component of management.
  • reduction in spasticity
  • reduction in dystonia
  • reduction in pain or muscle spasms
  • improved posture, including head control
  • improved function
  • improved self-care (or ease of care by parents or carers).

Glossary

A neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that blocks neurotransmitter release at peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals. Injection into a muscle reduces spasticity.
Direct administration of baclofen into the fluid-filled space around the spinal cord (the intrathecal space) using a catheter and infusion pump. The pump is implanted in the abdominal cavity and allows a continual controlled delivery of baclofen adjusted according to need.
Involuntary, sustained, or intermittent muscle contractions that cause twitching and repetitive movements, abnormal postures or both.
The ability to use small muscle groups, often in coordination with the eyes, to perform precision activities such as writing or fastening buttons.
Spasticity involving a specific muscle or group of muscles.
A detailed approach to analysing the component phases of walking using instrumentation or video analysis in addition to clinical observation. This is undertaken to evaluate a child or young person's ability and style of walking and to plan or assess treatment.
The ability to use large muscle groups to perform body movements such as sitting, standing, walking and running.
Direct injection of baclofen into the fluid-filled space around the spinal cord (the intrathecal space) using a lumbar puncture needle or a temporary spinal catheter in order to assess the likely response to continuous pump-administered baclofen treatment.
A physical therapy intervention in which the child or young person actively stretches their muscles with the aim of increasing range of movement.
The normal state of continuous passive partial contraction in a resting muscle. Muscle tone is important in maintaining posture. Increased muscle tone (hypertonia) is associated with an abnormal resistance to passive stretch, while reduced muscle tone (hypotonia) is associated with floppiness of the limbs or trunk and poor posture.
A multidisciplinary group of healthcare and other professionals working in a network of care to deliver a clinical service.
The degree of motion through which a joint can be moved by an outside force without active participation by the child or young person themself (for example, movement by another person).
The range of motion, usually measured in degrees, through which a joint can move.
An adverse effect on musculoskeletal structure that occurs as a result of spasticity (for example, a contracture or abnormal torsion).
A neurosurgical procedure in which some of the sensory nerves that contribute to spasticity in the lower limb are cut at the point where they enter the spinal cord.
A specific form of increased muscle tone (hypertonia) in which one or both of the following are present:
  • the resistance to externally imposed movement increases with increasing speed of stretch and varies with the direction of joint movement
  • the resistance to externally imposed movement increases rapidly beyond a threshold speed or joint angle.
A physiotherapy technique where a specific goal is identified and the child or young person carries out exercises or activities using the affected limb or limbs to improve their performance.
An approach to physical therapy in which an unaffected arm is temporarily restrained to encourage use of the other arm.
Shortening of muscle tendons, ligaments and soft tissues resulting in a limitation of joint movement. Usually, muscle shortening is the primary abnormality, but prolonged immobility or scarring may also contribute.
Abnormal ankle plantarflexion (movement of the foot at the ankle joint in a downward direction). This can, for example, result in the child or young person walking on tiptoe.
Dystonia involving a specific muscle or group of muscles.
The ability to perform normal activities or actions. Such function may be impaired by spasticity and associated motor disorders and by the complications of spasticity.
Gross Motor Function Classification System. This is a five-point scale that describes gross motor function: level I, walks without restrictions; level II, walks without assistive devices; level III, walks with assistive devices; level IV, has limited self-mobility; level V, has severely limited self-mobility even with assistive devices.
Movement of the top of the thigh bone that connects with the pelvis (the femoral head) from its normal position in the socket joint of the hip (the acetabulum). This movement is often measured by reporting the degree of displacement seen on X-ray (known as the hip migration percentage).
Abnormal curvature of the spine when viewed from the side of the body that results in a hunched or slouching position.
A physical therapy intervention involving sustained stretching using positioning with equipment, orthoses or serial casting.
Linked groups of healthcare professionals and organisations working in an agreed and coordinated manner to deliver a clinical service. A network is not constrained by existing professional, organisational or institutional boundaries.
(plural, orthoses) An artificial device or appliance used to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities or to improve musculoskeletal function.
Physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy.
An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine viewed from in front of or behind the child or young person.
Any effect experienced by a child or young person as a result of spasticity. This may be symptomatic (for example, pain or difficulty walking) or a complication affecting the structure of the musculoskeletal system (see secondary complications of spasticity).
The successive use of casts with the aim of progressively lengthening muscles and other non-bony tissues such as ligaments and tendons thereby reducing the effect of contractures by passive stretching to gradually improve the range of movement.
A surgical procedure where two or more vertebrae are joined to prevent movement between them.

Child or young person with spasticity who may benefit from orthoses

Child or young person with spasticity who may benefit from orthoses

When to consider orthoses

When to consider orthoses

When to consider orthoses

Consider orthoses for children and young people with spasticity based on their individual needs and aimed at specific goals, such as:
  • improving posture
  • improving upper limb function
  • improving walking efficiency
  • preventing or slowing development of contractures
  • preventing or slowing hip migration
  • relieving discomfort or pain
  • preventing or treating tissue injury, for example by relieving pressure points.

Source guidance

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Potential contraindications to orthoses

Potential contraindications to orthoses

Potential contraindications to orthoses

When considering an orthosis, discuss with the child or young person and their parents or carers the balance of possible benefits against risks. For example, discuss its cosmetic appearance, the possibility of discomfort or pressure sores or of muscle wasting through lack of muscle use.
Assess whether an orthosis might:
  • cause difficulties with self-care or care by others
  • cause difficulties in relation to hygiene
  • be unacceptable to the child or young person because of its appearance.
Be aware when considering a rigid orthosis that it may cause discomfort or pressure injuries in a child or young person with marked dyskinesia. They should be monitored closely to ensure that the orthosis is not causing such difficulties.

Source guidance

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Orthoses for upper limb spasticity

Orthoses for upper limb spasticity

Orthoses for upper limb spasticity

Consider the following orthoses for children and young people with upper limb spasticity:
  • elbow gaiters to maintain extension and improve function
  • rigid wrist orthoses to prevent contractures and limit wrist and hand flexion deformity
  • dynamic orthoses to improve hand function (for example, a non-rigid thumb abduction splint allowing some movement for a child or young person with a 'thumb in palm' deformity).

Source guidance

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Ankle-foot orthoses

Ankle–foot orthoses

Ankle–foot orthoses

Consider ankle–foot orthoses for children and young people with serious functional limitations (GMFCS level IV or V) to improve foot position for sitting, transfers between sitting and standing, and assisted standing.
Be aware that in children and young people with secondary complications of spasticity, for example contractures and abnormal torsion, ankle–foot orthoses may not be beneficial.
For children and young people with equinus deformities that impair their gait consider:
  • a solid ankle–foot orthosis if they have poor control of knee or hip extension
  • a hinged ankle–foot orthosis if they have good control of knee or hip extension.
Consider ground reaction force ankle–foot orthoses to assist with walking if the child or young person has a crouch gait and good passive range of movement at the hip and knee.

Source guidance

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Body trunk orthoses

Body trunk orthoses

Body trunk orthoses

Consider body trunk orthoses for children and young people with co-existing scoliosis or kyphosis if this will help with sitting.

Source guidance

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Fitting orthoses

Fitting orthoses

Fitting orthoses

Ensure that orthoses are appropriately designed for the individual child or young person and are sized and fitted correctly. If necessary seek expert advice from an orthotist within the network team.
The network of care should have a pathway that aims to minimise delay in:
  • supplying an orthosis once measurements for fit have been performed and
  • repairing a damaged orthosis.

Source guidance

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Giving information

Giving information

Giving information

Inform children and young people who are about to start using an orthosis, and their parents or carers:
  • how to apply and wear it
  • when to wear it and for how long:
    • an orthosis designed to maintain stretch to prevent contractures is more likely to be effective if worn for longer periods of time, for example at least 6 hours a day
    • an orthosis designed to support a specific function should be worn only when needed
  • when and where to seek advice.
Advise children and young people and their parents or carers that they may remove an orthosis if it is causing pain that is not relieved despite their repositioning the limb in the orthosis or adjusting the strapping.

Source guidance

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Overnight use of orthoses

Overnight use of orthoses

Overnight use of orthoses

Consider the overnight use of orthoses to:
Consider the overnight use of orthoses for muscles that control two joints. Immobilising the two adjacent joints provides better stretch and night-time use avoids causing functional difficulties.
If an orthosis is used overnight, check that it:
  • is acceptable to the child or young person and does not cause injury
  • does not disturb sleep.

Source guidance

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Continuing assessment

Continuing assessment

Continuing assessment

The network team should review the use of orthoses at every contact with the child or young person. Ensure that the orthosis:
  • is still acceptable to the child or young person and their parents or carers
  • remains appropriate to treatment goals
  • is being used as advised
  • remains well fitting and in good repair
  • is not causing adverse effects such as discomfort, pain, sleep disturbance, injury or excessive muscle wasting.

Source guidance

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Other treatment options

View the 'Spasticity in children and young people overview' path

Paths in this pathway

Pathway created: July 2012 Last updated: March 2013

Copyright © 2013 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. All Rights Reserved.



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