Passive muscle properties are altered in children with cerebral palsy before the age of 3 years and are difficult to distinguish clinically from spasticity

Abstract

These data suggest that increased reflex-mediated muscle stiffness is difficult to distinguish clinically from changes in passive muscle stiffness and that signs of changes in muscle properties are already present from the age of 3 years in children with CP. This emphasizes the importance of accurately distinguishing different contributions to muscle stiffness to avoid unnecessary antispasticity treatment.