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Mark A. Young, MD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY

JAMA. 1991;266(1):66.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—Albright et al¹ detail the clinical usefulness of intrathecal baclofen for treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy as a more effective alternative to oral administration.

However, one disadvantage with this approach, as with other pharmacological modes of treatment, is the potential for simultaneous elimination of "functional forms" of spasticity. Excessive spasticity reduction in the lower-extremity antigravity muscles may significantly diminish the ability of the patient with spasticity to ambulate. Aptly labeled "physiological crutch" in certain clinical instances, spasticity can enable the patient with central nervous system injury to walk and to achieve optimal functional recovery. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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