MossRehab, part of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network

Mobility/Spasticity/ Impaired Movement

Severe loss of movement is often the result of brain injury or other neurological disorders such as stroke, polio and cerebral palsy. This loss of movement can make even the most ordinary of daily activities impossible to accomplish. People affected by spasticity, contracture and loss of mobility may not be able to walk and may live without being able to wash, dress or feed themselves. Often confined to bed or to a wheelchair, these people need extensive care from family members and other caregivers.

Treatment Options and Strategies

Choosing the best treatment option for each patient is a function of medical teamwork, with the patient’s symptoms comprehensively evaluated by an assessment team including a doctor specializing in rehabilitation, a neuro-orthopedic specialist, physical and occupational therapists, a nurse and a social worker and, when needed, an orthotist. Patients and their caregivers are the most important members of the team, as they help identify the problems and treatment goals that help determine the interventions. This team approach has had proven success in establishing personal treatment plans that achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Treatment strategies will vary based on several factors. Those factors include the patient’s current ability to perform daily activities, severity and scope of the musculoskeletal problem, therapeutic and functional goals of treatment, possible side effects and a risk/cost benefit analysis.