The muscles of a patient with a spinal cord injury are typically described as which of the following?

In the context of a spinal cord injury, the muscles are typically described as spastic due to the phenomenon of spasticity that can occur in patients with such injuries. Spasticity is characterized by an increased muscle tone and exaggerated reflexes, which often arise from damage to the upper motor neurons in the central nervous system.

After a spinal cord injury, particularly if it is complete, lower motor neurons may still function, leading to involuntary muscle contractions and increased muscle tone in the affected areas. This results in a condition where muscles exhibit stiffness and spasms, making them spastic, rather than flaccid or weak.

Flaccidity generally occurs in cases like lower motor neuron lesions where there is a loss of muscle tone, whereas tonic refers to a more sustained muscular contraction that is not characteristic when discussing spinal cord injuries. Weakness in muscles can also occur, but it describes muscle strength rather than the specific muscle tone changes that define spasticity in this context. Understanding these terms is crucial in assessing patients and planning appropriate interventions in rehabilitation settings.