Spasticity is the most common cause of stroke. In United States stroke affects 750 000 people per year, in Poland about 70 000 people.
Spasticity is a symptom of increased muscle tone that usually accompanies niedowładowi and leads to many complications and dysfunction.
This cause the pain and makes it very difficult in terms of patient functioning and self-care. Only 5% of stroke patients recover with
a good efficiency in the upper limbs and 25% can not walk alone. Spasticity associated with the occurrence of symptoms, which are
becoming increasingly limited physical and make worse the overall condition of the patient, regardless of the reasons which caused it.
Ailments which may occur, lead many problems of care. Pain incentives may increase intensity of pain. In this situation there is “vicious circle”,
when the pain increases spasticity, and this increases the pain. Nursing care of patient with spasticity is multidisciplinary - ranging from
determine the status of the patient’s condition, across nurses’ diagnosis to comprehensive education and social support among patient and
his relatives.

Nursing Topics 2010; 18 (3): 363-367