adjective / noun
spastic
SPASS-tik/spˈæstɪk/
Affected by involuntary muscle tightness or spasms.
The therapist supports the person's spastic hand as it remains involuntarily flexed.
Etymology
The root's sense of drawing or pulling became the medical idea of muscles contracting involuntarily. Greek spastikos already meant “afflicted with spasms,” directly connecting that pulling action to the selected meaning.
In context
… diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraplegia …
More examples
- Physical therapy helps him stretch his spastic muscles.
- The doctor checks whether her arm muscles are spastic.
- Spastic paralysis can cause persistent muscle stiffness.
Forms
spastic · spastics
spasticity noun — Abnormally increased muscle tightness or stiffness.
Similar words
- spasmodic
- Emphasizes intermittent spasms rather than sustained muscle tightness.
- stiff
- Describes resistance to movement without specifying a neurological cause.