Management of spasticity in spinal cord injury: nursing concerns.

Nursing diagnoses are proposed for the management of spasticity in the spinal cord-injured person. The diagnoses, pain and self-care deficit related to spasticity, can guide independent nursing management to reduce nociceptive stimulation and increase self-management of spasticity in spinal cord injury. The Gate Control Theory helps to explain alpha muscle susceptibility to nociceptive stimulation and offers rationale underlying nursing management of spasticity. The Modified Ashworth Scale is used to define, measure and evaluate the effectiveness of management of spasticity. Independent nursing management provides the foundation for spasticity intervention. Other interdisciplinary team interventions, including therapist intervention, pharmacological intervention and invasive procedures supplement the nursing management framework.