Fix a stiff leg: How to treat severe spasticity

Thank you for your informative videos. Im 3 years post stroke. After a year if intensive rehab, I was told that my disabilitoes are life-long but I don't want to accept that. I'm a Christosn believer and I still believe that God will heal me. I continue personal training at home. I can walk compensatory way with a leg brace due to severe spasticity with a cane and atill can't use my left arm and hand but very grayedul everyday that I got my cognitove ablity and recovered eating and soeaking abilities. I'm still working hard to recover and not giving up..

I am 9 months post-stroke. The spasticity was irritating, at the beginning, but I felt like I was gradually improving. My mom had back surgery about 6 weeks ago, and taking care of her, I became so sedentary, the spasticity is worse, now. I did not get an appropriate PT, but my OT was good. Now, I am taking what I learned, searching for solutions, and taking the reins back. I am so tired of this, and the stiffness and spasticity cause me to hate my body. I need to love myself; top to toes.

I wait on the notification every Sunday from Dr. Tobias like I do with a direct deposit into my bank account. I am just so excited everytime I get a new exercise to perform or just to hear the words of encouragement from Dr. Tobias. I will tell everyone that the most beneficial video that I have received and the one that has got me from sitting in a wheelchair to walking is the one that covers"tall kneeling". It is still unbelievable that I have come this far with this exercise. Now, this video will allow me to walk more "relaxed" Thank you Dr. Tobias!

🧡🏵🧡 Dear Dr. Tara, you are a blessing. Even though I got rid of the leg spastics in 20 months, it is still a delight so see how super engaged you are for your community of survivors and patients. My way out if the spastics was as you say: active and passive movement every day. Squads, lunges, knee lifts and heel back lifts. You are so right that relaxation plays a central role in fighting spastics, also weights and gravity. 🏵🧡🏵 All the best to you and doggie Chico. 🌼🧡🌼

This is so very helpful. I am a stroke survivor, and have spasticity on my left side. Your videos are helping me immensely.

New to this channel. You have already given me so much information just in about an hour of watching your videos on spasticity and foot drop. I have MS and am 46 years old. So glad I found your channel. Looking forward to doing these exercises.

I bought a skateboard last week, and 5 months post stroke I can finally actively bend my knee sitting down! Now to move on to the standing and bending for walking! My PT and OT always frown on passive exercises, but passive leads to arrive! Thank you!

I am 3 1/2 years post diagnosis of aggressive primary progressive MS. I recently had deep brain stimulation to minimise to some extent the intention tremor. In my recovery phase from DBS, I get really bad spasticity. For example, when I’m sitting down, it feels like there’s no circulation below the knees. And when I get up to walk my feet drag, particularly the right leg, on the ground and sometimes people even have to push that leg along to make it move so I’m not stuck when I’m not in a wheelchair, but using a four wheel walker. Thank you for this video and this entire channel. It’s great. Thank you ❤️

Wow! I have been searching YouTube for years for answers to my severe spasticity. I have looked @ everything it seems. In 20 years of Multiple Sclerosis, I now have some great exercises from you Doctor Tara - Thank you! I have been unable to walk the past 6 years ( I am able to get around with crutches, walkers and now a wheelchair) These exercises in this video are giving me hope, and I'm sure they can make a difference. I finally found a source for my straight legs spasticity (soon to be normal! -Thanks again Doctor Tara, and I look forward to my progress and more of your videos!

I absolutely love your videos! have been living with MS for a long time. I have a stiff gait... I look like someone straight out of The Walking Dead. I have never known what to think about while I’m trying to walk. Thanks to you now I have new tools to work with!!! Outstanding! Thank you so much!

This was the first of your videos I watched. Within a minute of watching you messaged that passive movement is key whereas active movement not so much. You rocked my world, changed my thinking and helped relieve some spasticity, "the relax moment" is everything! Thank you so very much, looking forward to watching all your vids!

Dr. Tara you are a jewel that sincerely has compassion and enthusiasm for helping people and it shows. I have severe spacicity but I am still capable of laying on my stomach on the floor and raising my involved leg alone but first I lock my strong right foot on my left to assist my left for 10-20 reps ,then I lift my let leg by itself. I also ride a recumbent trike with a clipless bike shoe on the right side with my afo left leg into a regular shoe that is strapped into a special left pedal. I am not sure if this is good therapy but it gives me the freedom to travel unassisted up to 30 miles. I have my hemi Cain mounted to the back so I can walk if needed. I live alone , so the trike gives me independence to go to local stores that have electric carts for the handicapped. I am not sure if this helps my therapy but the independence makes me feel good.

I needed this. Thank you so much. I'm starting with the exercises and will give feedback soon. God sent me to this channel today 🙏🏿

Watching right now in Austria.. This is precisely my problem. I had a stroke and, along with other problems, have immense difficulty bending one completely stiff leg. I will try to relax. Thank you!

You are marvelous, I hope you still are active in your therapy work. I have recovered well but have peaked after my 1st year anniversary, this video answers what my left knee suffered. Thank you, my journey continues...

I’m going to beat this MS thanks to you!! 🧡🧡

This is great for multiple sclerosis ppl as well. Thanks.

I’m going to try this on my brother tomorrow. Thank you for all your information. Stay blessed.

Thank you so much for your videos Dr Tara. I have watched several of your videos and am unfortunately very familiar with some of the terminology, although I do not claim to be an expert at all. I am a 20 year stroke survivor and have had multiple rounds of therapy over the years. My best therapist were definitely the Neurotherapist, which are not easy to find in my area. You’re techniques are very helpful. My hope is all stroke survivors will find your videos and practice. The relaxation technique is something I really need to work on even today. This was never addressed and I always felt like that was the part of the walking gait process I could not understand. I wear the Bioness which helps with my foot drop but still have issues where my hip and knee are concerned. I wish I could get some cues on pushing my hip forward before bending my knee. Thank you again for caring enough to put this information out for survivors.😊

I'm amused by how many PT videos have a chill dog just hanging out in the background. Great video!