Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Rehabilitation >
  • ... >
  • Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation >
  • Conditions We Treat >
  • Spasticity
Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
About Us
Locations
Conditions We Treat
Brain Injury
Musculoskeletal Pain
Neurogenic Bladder
Pain Management
Pelvic Pain
Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain
Spasticity
Spina Bifida
Spinal Cord Injury
Spine Health
Sports Injuries
Stroke
Our Experts
Our Partners
Patient Stories
Research
Residency and Fellowship Programs
Treatment Options
Contact Us
Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
About Us
Locations
Conditions We Treat
Brain Injury
Musculoskeletal Pain
Neurogenic Bladder
Pain Management
Pelvic Pain
Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain
Spasticity
Spina Bifida
Spinal Cord Injury
Spine Health
Sports Injuries
Stroke
Our Experts
Our Partners
Patient Stories
Research
Residency and Fellowship Programs
Treatment Options
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Spasticity

Spasticity is the continual contraction of certain muscles that may significantly limit your ability to function independently.

When the part of the brain (or spinal cord) that controls voluntary movement suffers damage, it results in more muscle activity than is typical.

The loss of control over any part of your body can lead to feelings of helplessness and a lack of independence. 

Physiatrists and rehabilitation specialists at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation deliver specialized forms of treatment in order for you to regain function and control of your affected limb or limbs and reduce symptoms of spasticity.

Spasticity symptoms

Symptoms of spasticity range from uncomfortable muscle tightness to sudden muscle spasms and severe joint pain.

Causes of Spasticity

Since spasticity affects the connection between your nervous system and muscle groups, it most often occurs following significant brain or spinal cord trauma.

Common causes of spasticity include:

  • Brain injury
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Stroke

Treatment for Spasticity

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s three spasticity clinics in Pittsburgh, Pa., offer several leading treatment options for spasticity. The Department also offers ongoing clinical trials and state-of-the-art localization of the medication using either ultrasound or EMG guidance.

A doctor will perform a comprehensive evaluation in order to determine the best course of treatment for you based on the severity and areas of your body spasticity occurs. During an evaluation, the doctor may test movement in your extremities as well as your capabilities to perform at-home tasks independently. Specific goals you would like to accomplish, such as decreasing pain or re-gaining the ability to perform specific functions is also discussed.

Examples of treatment options for spasticity include:

  • Oral medications
  • Botulinum toxin injections
  • Patient-specific rehabilitation programs, including occupational or physical therapy

For more information about the treatment of spasticity visit the spasticity treatment page.

Looking for...

  • Inpatient Rehabilitation.
  • Outpatient Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapy.
  • Rehabilitation Doctors.

Make an Appointment

Call 1-800-533-8762 to make an appointment with a doctor from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login