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Professor Dressler Leads the International Movement Disorder Society’s Spasticity Group

The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society’s Special Interest Group on Spasticity has a new leader. It is Professor Dr Dr Dirk Dressler, head of the Movement Disorders Section at Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. He takes over from Professor Ryuji Kaji from Kyoto, Japan who started this group several years ago.

‘The goal of this group is to establish spasticity as one of the main themes within the field of movement disorders’, said Dressler. ‘Spasticity is such an important condition with so many patients affected that it needs to be represented in MDS as the central platform for movement disorders.’ Historically, the International Medical Society for Motor Disturbances, the European predecessor organisation of MDS founded by CD Marsden had spasticity included as one of their core activities. Only later on when the impulse then generated by the introduction of baclofen faded, the interest in spasticity faded as well. Now, especially with the introduction of botulinum toxin therapy, spasticity has become a well treatable condition. ‘We invite all neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, paediatricians and non-medical therapists interested in spasticity to join our group and contribute to our mission’, said Dressler.