Spasticity Epidemiology Summary

• Spasticity represents a broad, indication-driven treatment opportunity, with post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, and TBI populations serving as major addressable segments and driving demand for therapies that provide sustained functional and symptom control.
• In 2025, post-stroke spasticity accounted for the largest share of spasticity cases in the US, with ~2.3 million (about 41%), followed by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with ~1.5 million cases (about 24%).
• There is currently no comprehensive registry or single epidemiological source that captures the complete spasticity population. As a result, a robust forecast requires triangulation of multiple data sources, including disease prevalence, published spasticity rates, registries, and real-world evidence.
• According to the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), the prevalence of spasticity after stroke is estimated to be 30-49% of the survivors, and, the stroke spasticity is the leading cause of disability in Japan.
• Majorly, the spasticity burden was concentrated among adults aged =18 years; in 2025, adults accounted for 4 million cases, compared with 540,000 cases among the pediatric population aged 2–17 years, highlighting adults as the primary contributors to the overall spasticity population.
• Despite the high prevalence of spasticity among post-stroke and TBI populations, a meaningful proportion of cases may remain clinically unrecognized or undiagnosed, particularly where symptoms are mild or access to specialized neurological and rehabilitation services is limited. This diagnostic gap may lead to an underestimation of the addressable spasticity population.
• Patients with underlying neurological disorders are routinely monitored in clinical practice, increasing the likelihood of spasticity recognition once symptoms become clinically significant. Therefore, indication-specific spasticity prevalence estimates were applied to diagnosed base populations, and an overall diagnosis rate of approximately 80% was assumed, reflecting high disease recognition while accounting for residual underdiagnoses.

DelveInsight’s “Spasticity Epidemiology Forecast – 2036” report delivers an in depth understanding of spasticity, historical and forecasted epidemiology in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Spasticity Understanding

Spasticity Overview

Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in muscle tone or tonic stretch reflexes and is associated with hypertonia. It is an important positive manifestation of the upper motor neuron syndrome and results from abnormalities in the neural pathways that regulate muscle tone and spinal reflex activity.

Spasticity Diagnosis

Diagnosis of spasticity is primarily based on clinical assessment of increased muscle tone, exaggerated stretch reflexes, and velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. The evaluation typically includes a neurological examination to identify the distribution and severity of spasticity, assess muscle strength and range of motion, and distinguish spasticity from other forms of hypertonia. Standardized tools such as the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Tardieu Scale are commonly used to quantify muscle tone and differentiate neural and non-neural components of resistance, while the Penn Spasm Frequency Scale assesses the frequency and severity of muscle spasms. Additional functional assessments may be used to determine the impact of spasticity on mobility, activities of daily living, pain, and overall quality of life.

Further details are provided in the report...

Spasticity Epidemiology

Key Findings from Spasticity Epidemiological Analysis and Forecast

• In the US, spasticity affects approximately 35% of those with stroke, more than 90% with cerebral palsy, about 50% of traumatic brain injury patients, 40% of spinal cord injury patients, and between 37% and 78% of multiple sclerosis patients.
• In the US, in 2025, the total diagnosed spasticity population was estimated at approximately 4.5 million cases.
• Among the major etiologies of spasticity in the US, post-stroke spasticity accounted for the highest number of cases in 2025, with approximately 2.3 million cases, followed by TBI-associated spasticity, which represented around 1.5 million cases. Other underlying conditions contributed to the remaining patient pool, reflecting the diverse neurological causes associated with spasticity.
• According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2024), out of the 1,180 adults with multiple sclerosis, 80% of respondents reported that they experienced spasticity every day, or multiple times each day, and 34% had constant spasticity symptoms. Spasticity was mostly considered to be moderate to severe.
• According to the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) (2019), the prevalence of spasticity after stroke is estimated to be 30-49% of the survivors, and, the stroke spasticity is the leading cause of disability in Japan.
• In the United Kingdom, in 2021, approximately 82% of patients with multiple sclerosis experienced spasticity, with 54% describing its impact as moderate. Overall, more than 80% of patients with multiple sclerosis report some degree of spasticity, with approximately one-third modifying or avoiding daily activities due to its impact.

Industry Experts and Physician Views for Spasticity

To keep up with spasticity dynamic epidemiology trends, we take Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) opinions working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. Industry Experts were contacted for insights on the spasticity epidemiology, including MD, PhD, Instructor, Postdoctoral Researcher, Professor, Researcher, and others.

DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 10+ KOLs to gather insights at country level. Centers such as the Johns Hopkins University, US, Yale School of Medicine, the University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Augsburg, Germany, University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan etc. were contacted.

Their opinion helps understand, validate, highlight and provide epidemiological context in spasticity.

Scope of the Spasticity Epidemiology Report

• The report covers a segment of an executive summary, a descriptive overview of spasticity, explaining their causes, signs, symptoms and pathogenesis.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of the diagnosis rate, and disease progression along diagnostic guidelines.
• The report provides an edge for understanding trends, expert insights/KOL views, and patient journeys in the 7MM.
• A detailed review of current challenges in establishing the diagnosis.

Spasticity Epidemiology Report Insights

• Spasticity Patient Population Forecast

Spasticity Epidemiology Report Key Strengths

• Spasticity Epidemiology based (Epi based) Bottom up Forecasting
• 11-year forecast
• Spasticity Patient Burden Trends (by geography)
• The 7MM Coverage

FAQs

• Spasticity Epidemiology Insights
• What is the forecast period covered in the report?
• How is epidemiological data collected and analyzed for forecasting purposes?
• Out of all EU4 countries and the UK, which country had the highest population of spasticity cases?
• What are the disease risks and burdens of spasticity?
• At what compound annual growth rate the population is expected to grow across the 7MM during the forecast period?
• What would be the forecasted patient population of spasticity at the 7MM level?

Reasons to Buy Spasticity Epidemiology Report

• Insights on spasticity burden and disease incidence/prevalent, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• To understand key opinion leaders’ perspectives around the diagnostic challenges to overcome barriers in the future.
• Detailed insights on various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.
• Clear methodology, validated assumptions, and data-driven rationale to assess the spasticity epidemiology analysis and patient population trends.