Alternatively, rehabilitation robotics can be used to provide high volumes of passive or assisted movement, depending on the individuals requirements; this form of therapy can be useful if therapists are at a premium, and has been found effective at reducing spasticity in patients with strokes. For muscles that lack any volitional control, such as after complete spinal cord injury, exercise may be assisted, and may require equipment, such as using a standing frame to sustain a standing position. A general treatment guideline can be followed that involves:

The initial focus on first activating contraction of antagonist muscles to provide reciprocal inhibition and lengthen spastic muscles
Reciprocal actions are attempted. Agonist contractions are performed first in small ranges progressing to larger arcs of movement
Highly stressful activities be minimized early in training
Functional skills are targeted for training
Patients and family/caregivers should be educated about the importance of maintaining range of motion and doing daily exercisesMedical interventions may include such medications as baclofen, diazepam, dantrolene, or clonazepam. Phenol injections can be used, or botulinum toxin injections into the muscle belly, to attempt to dampen the signals between nerve and muscle. The effectiveness of medications vary between individuals, and vary based on location of the upper motor neuron lesion (in the brain or the spinal cord). Medications are commonly used for spastic movement disorders, but research has not shown functional benefit for some drugs. Some studies have shown that medications have been effective in decreasing spasticity, but that this has not been accompanied by functional benefits.
See also
Icatibant, another drug for the treatment of HAE


== References ==