Editing Muscle spindle (section)

==Clinical significance==
Dysfunction in muscle spindle signaling has been implicated in sensory neuropathies and coordination disorders such as ataxia. Enhanced understanding of genetic mutations affecting spindle development (e.g. HRAS and Egr3-linked pathways) opens avenues for targeted therapies in proprioceptive deficits and neuromuscular diseases. 

After [[stroke]] or spinal cord injury in humans, spastic [[hypertonia]] ([[spastic paralysis]]) often develops, whereby the stretch reflex in flexor muscles of the arms and extensor muscles of the legs is overly sensitive.  This results in abnormal postures, stiffness and contractures. Hypertonia may be the result of over-sensitivity of alpha motor neurons and interneurons to the Ia and II afferent signals.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Heckmann CJ, Gorassini MA, Bennett DJ |title=Persistent inward currents in motoneuron dendrites: implications for motor output |journal=Muscle Nerve |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=135–56 |date=February 2005 |pmid=15736297 |doi=10.1002/mus.20261 |citeseerx=10.1.1.126.3583 |s2cid=17828664 }}</ref>