Chapter 7 - Muscle Relaxants

Summary

Muscle relaxants are a group of medications that may be used to treat muscle spasticity due to upper motor neuron syndromes, and muscular pain due to peripheral musculoskeletal disease or injuries such as low back pain. They may combat either spasticity or muscle spasm and contribute to increased patient comfort either alone or as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines spasticity as the abnormal increase in muscular tone, which ultimately interferes with daily movement activities and is accompanied with pain or discomfort. Muscle spasms are involuntary localized muscle contractions resulting from acute trauma or muscle strain. The clinical presentation includes muscle spasms, contracture, and clonus, amongst many other symptoms. The etiology of spasticity is diverse, including cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and inherited, acquired metabolic diseases. Management for spasticity includes usage of muscle relaxant pharmacologic agents.