The best treatment option is the one most likely to achieve the goals agreed upon by the individual, family and health care team. The health care team should include professionals who have experience working with individuals with brain injury. These health care professionals can then educate the individual, family and other team members on how the specific effects of the brain injury are likely to impact the individual's spasticity management plan. The health care team should carefully assess the cognitive, behavioral and emotional needs of the individual and plan the treatment process. With these issues in mind, it is important to remember that all these treatments can be used in different combinations.
Family members can learn as much as possible about spasticity and treatment options.
The more they know, the more effectively they will be able to work with the health care team to manage their family member's spasticity. Individuals with spasticity and their family members can call local hospitals and ask if they have a spasticity management program appropriate for those with brain injury, or if they could provide the name of one. The Brain Injury Association, Inc. can be contacted and questioned about local brain injury programs that may be able to give more information about spasticity management. She is on the academic faculty of Baylor College of Medicine in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas. She is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.