Abstract
In 1980, J.W. Lance offered the following operational definition of spasticity: “Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (‘muscle tone’) with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyper-excitability of the stretch reflex, as one component of the upper motor neuron syndrome” (Lance 1980) [italics added]. This has come to be the most widely used definition of this collection of clinical signs. Ten years later Lance reiterated the definition with the added remarks that ‘spasticity does not include impaired voluntary movement and an abnormal posture. These are often features of upper motoneuron lesions…” (Lance 1990).
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Gottlieb, G.L., Myklebust, B.M. (1993). Hyper-reflexia and Disordered Voluntary Movement. In: Thilmann, A.F., Burke, D.J., Rymer, W.Z. (eds) Spasticity. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78367-8_15
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