Table 1.

Features differentiating already used terms.

Names of clinical features of muscle hypertonus	Pathogenesis	Diagnostic examinations	Treatment
Spasticity	Lesion of the corticospinal pathways	Clinical examination, neuroimaging methods	Phenol injection, electrostimulation sec. Hufschmidt, kinetic therapy, baclofen etc
Rigidity	l-dopa deficiency	Clinical examination, neuroimaging methods	l- dopa, etc
Cramps	Heredity, secondary to various causes		Mg++, etc
Tetanic spasms	Ca++ or Mg++ deficiency	EMG multiplets provoked by ischemia or hyperventilation	Ca++ or Mg++, D3
Myotonia	Slowed muscle relaxation due to myogenic electrical hyperexcitability	Clinical examination, EMG, warm-up test	Sodium channel blockers, carbamazepine
Neuromyotonia	Heredity, peripheral distal nervous lesion	Clinical examination, EMG	Carbamazepine, corticosteroids
Contracture	Various	Clinical examination, local curare test	Neurolysis
Paroxysmal, symmetric, generalised spasms in full consciousness	Spinal lesion	Clinical neurological observation, spinal MR	Corticosteroids