What is the difference between Spasticity and Rigidity?

Spasticity is a condition in which several muscles suffer incessant contraction, stiffness, and tightness. It comes from lacerations in the pyramidal tract. Spasticity is depicted by spasm or stiffness interferes with the speech, normal movement, and gait. It is a frequent symptom of multiple sclerosis.

The central nervous system's messages are not communicated correctly to the spinal cord and the muscles, due to the breaking down of the paths between the brain system, the spinal cord, and the muscles. Rigidity is a state of stiffness, inflexibility, and the inability to bend, stretch or move through abnormality under pressure.

Rigidity is also recognized as muscle tension or rigor. It is mostly bi-directional. The challenge to maintain muscle movement is felt irrespective of speed and course of path in which the muscles and tissues display their motion. It can be demonstrated in Parkinson's disease. It could also be exacerbated by lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain and stiffness in the joints. Spasticity is the continuous contraction of muscles. The rigidity can affect any muscle of the body, both flexors, and extensors.

Spasticity is a Greek word meaning “pulling.” It is a condition in which muscles suffer from tightness, continuous contraction, and stiffness.it is mainly caused by the pyramidal tract. Spasticity is unidirectional, meaning the resilience to motion is only experienced when joint or muscles makes a move in a particular direction.

It is caused when messages from the central nervous system are not transmitted properly to the spinal cord, stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, acquired brain trauma. It affects mainly the muscles of the legs, arm, and neck.

The rigidity can be defined as stiffness, Inflexibility, inability to blend, stretch any deformity under pressure.it is commonly known as muscle tension.

Rigidity is mostly bi-directional. It is mostly caused by a viral and bacterial infection, Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, basal ganglia infection, acute cerebral infarction, catatonia, dystonia musculorum deformans, Wilson disease, and other. Lastly, it can affect any muscles in the body.

People who experience spasticity may say that they usually feel that their muscles are very hard to move. They may say that their muscles are stiff even if they do not realize it. When a person is experiencing severe spasticity, it will be hard to move an entire limb. Rigidity is caused by a dysfunction usually of the extrapyramidal pathways.

There are also instances when rigidity may be caused by different lesions. Take note that spasticity and rigidity can also be used for a lot of other things. For example, these terms may also be used to describe pipes and other items that will be used for construction.