Guided Self-Rehabilitation Contract in Spastic Paresis [electronic resource] / by Jean-Michel Gracies.

Part I: Lower limb anatomical review 1 -- Hip -- Gluteus maximus -- Hamstrings -- Hip flexor -- Hip extensor -- Hip adductors -- Hip internal rotators -- Knee -- Rectus femoris -- Vastus muscles -- Ankle -- Soleus -- Gastrocnemius -- Lower limb functional exercises -- Part II: Upper limb anatomical review -- Shoulder -- Pectoralis major -- Latissimus dorsi -- Long head of triceps -- Sub-scapularis -- Elbow -- Elbow flexors -- Pronator quadratus -- Pronator teres -- Wrist -- Wrist flexors -- Hand -- Flexors of digits -- Interosseus muscles -- Thumb -- Long thumb flexor -- Short thumb flexor -- Opponens pollicis -- Long abductor of the thumb -- Active thumb deopposition/opposition -- Adductor pollicis -- Appendix -- Personal log sheet lower limb -- Personal log sheet upper limb -- Neuroloco.

This book is an informative guide for both the patient and therapist, and provides a series of exercises that target the most important muscles for those with spastic paresis. Actively practicing the exercises prescribed in this self-rehabilitation manual will allow the patient to see continued improvement in their muscle functioning. Spastic paresis is the consequence of a central nervous system disorder such as a stroke, traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or a tumor of the nervous system, conditions that may have occurred in childhood or adulthood. In spastic paresis two problems coexist: the word 'paresis' means that when the brain sends a command to a muscle to contract, this order is incompletely received by the muscle; the word 'spastic' indicates that at the same time muscles cannot relax normally and have a tendency to be spontaneously overactive. A daily program of prolonged stretching and an intensive motor training program using unassisted large amplitude rapid alternating movements is recommended to gradually increase brain command effectiveness.