EDMONTON — Dealing with chronic muscle tightness or stiffness can have a major impact on a person’s quality of life, but a new clinic at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital is being described as a “one-stop shop” to help those suffering from the issue.
The Adult Interdisciplinary Orthopedic Spasticity Clinic is being called the first of its kind in Canada, with both an orthopedic surgeon and diagnostic input from the Syncrude Centre for Motion and Balance, which is a gait lab.
Spasticity is stiff or rigid muscles which can put a person into abnormal postures and hinder their quality of life.
Alberta Health Services says the program represents an evolution of a team-approach towards dealing with spasticity.
An orthopedic surgeon will allow a patient to receive surgery if necessary at the clinic to lengthen muscles or loosen tendons.