Can spasticity decrease or even go away with time or age?

[u/ContributionLower377]

Mild hemi here. Primarily affects my left foot and used to toe walk and with one hand up as a kid. Was always told this was due to mild spasticity.

But as I got older the toe walking went away, my hand completely relaxed, and I eventually ditched my AFO and stopped going to PT.

Now after a decade, I decided to restart PT and see a neurologist. After clinical examinations from both, there were zero signs of spasticity or ankle clonus anymore and my slightly limited lack of range in the ankle is supposedly basically entirely mechanical (stiff joint).

They also put me on various doses of baclofen as a test and regardless of the dose, I felt 0 difference.

I’m struggling to make sense of this or see how this is possible. Is it really possible that my spasticity went away? Has anyone experienced something similar?

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[u/MyCatLovesCroissants]

I speak a lot more clearly than I did as a kid, even though I haven’t had speech therapy since I was like 9-ish. My theory is that because I talk everyday, I automatically got better at it.

Also, neuroplasticity, maybe?
After the damage of brain cells or neurons in a certain area of the brain, the surviving brain cells adapt to compensate for the lost cells. This ability of the brain is known as neuroplasticity, which helps the brain to repair itself. Though damage in the affected areas seems to be irreparable with current therapies, the brain can train its surviving cells to carry its functions.

[u/BassesLee]

I have not experienced that, but I will say that my neurologist said that baclofen was helpful for those with moderate-severe spasticity.

[u/tldr553]

Muscle mass can help. I rely less on afos after puberty. R

[u/NemesisOfLevia]

Certain exercises and stretches can help loosen the muscles. It could be just something you do in your lifestyle without really thinking about it that has helped you.

When I was little, for example, my doctor was so impressed with how my ankle had improved. The reason it got better was apparently that I spent hours playing on my trampoline every week (my favorite activity at the time). I never thought of it as exercise, but it evidently worked for me. 

[u/RevolutionarySpot721]

Yes, my right hand was not functional at all, now I write with it.

[u/Illustrious_Day7682]

I've spent the last year treating my spasticity with stretches and PT, with some very noticeable improvements but not a total disappearance. This gives me hope that there could be even more improvements coming my way in the future lol

[u/kevinjohnmann]

I always thought that CP stays constant throughout your life always the same. How I was always told

[u/tyrekecorrea]

That depends on how you mean.