The honest truth about stroke spasticity

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]Your spasticity is most likely not a life sentence. And for those who have been a few years out from your stroke, you may find that hard to believe. But over the last 10 years of working with stroke survivors, I've seen spasticity significantly improve with the right approach, even years after stroke. So, if you've been quietly wondering if this is just how it's going to be, then keep watching because the honest truth is actually better than you think. So, will spasticity go away? Here's the honest answer. It depends. And I know that's not really the answer you're hoping for, but spasticity is just such a complex condition and there's just a whole lot of gray area.

[00:00:35]So, what I can tell you from years of working with stroke survivors is this.

[00:00:38]It is rare that spasticity won't improve at all with the right approach, rare.

[00:00:43]But here's the other side. For chronic stroke survivors, it's also unlikely to completely disappear.

[00:00:49]But here's what I've seen over and over again. Many stroke survivors get to the point where the spasticity is just barely affecting their daily life, not gone, but managed, functional. Not something they think about every single day. And that's a very, very real, achievable outcome for a lot of people.

[00:01:04]What actually moves the needle in neuroplasticity-based movement is repetitive, task-specific practice that signals the brain to rewire. Consistent positioning throughout the day, so you're not reinforcing the pattern you're trying to break.

[00:01:18]The right intensity and frequency because the brain needs enough input to actually change. And for some stroke survivors, medical treatment layered on top, such as Botox, nerve blocks, or you know, any other intervention, are valid and important part of the equation. If you're not sure where you are in your recovery or what your spasticity actually needs right now, I've got a free 2-minute quiz linked in the description that's going to help you point you in the right direction.