Collaboratively Managing Spasticity

Spasticity management is never a solo act— ahem let me rephrase that - it should never be a solo act. 

But as clinicians, we so often feel like a one-person team trying to support our patients in managing their spasticity- which can lead to frustration, isolation, and hopelessness. 

So, how do we better collaborate with physicians & other team members working on spasticity management? Well, communication is key… The more we can communicate with physicians, the better the outcome is for our patients. 

We are often the first ones to notice when spasticity impacts function. And so we are uniquely positioned to be the best advocates for our patients in receiving medical management for their spasticity. 

Our documentation guides medical decisions (so those notes we write can and do matter). If it isn’t written down, it’s like it didn’t happen…. Share functional, detailed, outcome-based feedback with physicians. That could look like sending a note to the neurologist, physiatrist or referring physician to recommend a screening for Botox, due to functional impairments limiting your patient’s participation in ADL/IADL. 

For example, “Patient X has moderate flexor spasticity at his elbow flexors preventing him from being able to extend his elbow to wash his feet in the shower.” Simple, functional, effective. And the earlier you can advocate for a patient to receive medical management for spasticity, the better their outcomes. 

Want more about collaborating on spasticity management with others? Check out our course: “Collaborative Approaches to Spasticity Management” where we talked with physiatrist Dr. Cassandra List and Occupational Therapist Briana Elson about ways to work together on helping our patients better manage spasticity.