Does Reducing Spasticity Permit an Increase in Strength?

Exclusion Criteria

• •1\. Contracture at the ankle, or a limitation of the passive range of motion such that neutral position is not achievable with the knee extended.
• •2\. Hypersensitivity or allergy to Baclofen or related medications, or any medical condition that would be expected to increase the risks of this study 3. Respiratory difficulty due to weakness, restrictive lung disease, obstructive lung disease, tracheomalacia, or laryngeal weakness 4. Renal failure or chronic kidney disease 5. Pregnancy or planned pregnancy (sexually active girls will be asked to take a urine pregnancy test prior to study entry) 6. Difficulty maintaining head position while standing or seated 7. Current use of other anti-spasticity agents, including valium, tizanidine, clonidine, dantrolene, or similar agents 8. Use of oral baclofen within 3 months prior to study entry 9. Injection of botulinum toxin into the calf muscles within 3 months prior to study entry 10. Prior implantation of a baclofen pump or deep-brain stimulator 11. Seizure within previous two years 12. Lower extremity dystonia 13. Bradykinesia or evidence of parkinsonism 14. Spinal cord injury 15. Neurodegenerative disease 16. Ankle, foot, lower leg, or Achilles tendon surgery within the previous year 17. Dorsal rhizotomy or neurotomy