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Chapter 7 - Muscle Relaxants

from Part II - Common Categories of Pharmacologic Medications to Treat Chronic Pain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2023

By
Merlin Perez  and
Nazir Noor
Edited by
Omar Viswanath  and
Ivan Urits
Omar Viswanath
Affiliation:
Creighton University, Omaha
Ivan Urits
Affiliation:
Southcoast Brain & Spine Center, Wareham
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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.

Keywords

spasticitymuscle spasmcentral spasticitymuscle strainbaclofentizanidine
Type
Chapter
Information
Cambridge Handbook of Pain Medicine , pp. 53 - 57
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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