Rehabilitation consideration

of skeletal muscle relaxants

Introduction
• a type of medication which reduced function of skeletal muscle
function.
• It is commonly seen in rehabilitation setting actions as management
for increased tone or spasticity.
• It is used for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in combination of
exercises.
• Application of muscle relaxant can also be found in population
suffering from stroke.
Muscle relaxant can be divided into two major groups:
 Neuromuscular blockers
spasmolytics
• Neuromuscular blocker: This type of muscle relaxants effects
peripherally at the neuromuscular end plate.
• It interferes with transmission between the neurone and muscle fibre
to reduce functions of skeletal muscles.
• It is more commonly seen during surgical procedures, intensive care
unit and medical emergency.
• Spasmolytics: also know as antispasmodics.
• spasmolytics acts centrally at the level of cerebrum, cerebellum,
brainstem and/or spinal cord.
• Medical practitioner can prescribe spasmolytics as adjuncts in
management of musculoskeletal condition and reduce spasticity in
certain neurological conditions.
Common conditions treated by muscle
relaxants
• Stroke with spasticity
• Fibromyalgia
• Huntington's disease
• Migraine
• Muscle spasm
• Neuralgia
• Nocturnal leg cramp
• Tempomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
Classification
• 1. Neuromuscular blocking agents
• A. Non depolarising blockers
• Long acting – d-Tubocurarine
• Intermediate acting –Atracurium
• Short acting – Mivacurium
• B. Depolarizing blockers – Succinyl choline
• Centrally acting – Benzodiazepines, gabapentin

2. Directly acting agents- Dandrolene sodium, Quinine

Precautions
• Skeletal muscle relaxants may cause blurred vision or
clumsiness or unsteadiness