DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND PERSONALIZED THERAPY OF PEDIATRIC MUSCLE SPASTICITY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 180 PATIENTS
Keywords:
spasticity, children, cerebral palsy, rehabilitation, GMFCS, Ashworth, neuromuscular disordersAbstract
Spasticity is one of the most common motor disorders in children with central nervous system lesions. It is characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in muscle tone, leading to functional limitations and reduced quality of life. Despite advances in treatment, challenges remain in early diagnosis and in selecting the most appropriate therapeutic strategy. The study included 180 children aged 3–16 years: 150 patients with spastic syndrome of various etiologies and 30 conditionally healthy children (control group). Clinical and neurological examination, assessment scales (Ashworth Scale, Barthel Index, GMFCS, MACS, Wechsler Scale), and instrumental methods (electroneuromyography and brain MRI) were applied. A differentiated approach to the diagnosis and treatment of spasticity in children improves therapeutic outcomes and should be considered a basis for personalized rehabilitation.
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