ITB Therapy is a treatment that delivers a special form of the drug baclofen, Lioresal Intrathecal, directly to the fluid around the spinal cord. In clinical literature, people have reported that ITB Therapy has helped them to be more independent, allowing them to feed or dress themselves, sit more comfortably, or transfer more easily. In addition, caregivers reported that care is easier with ITB Therapy.

Spasticity is tightness or stiffness of muscles. It happens when damage to the brain or spinal cord prevents certain nerve signals from reaching areas of the spinal cord that release GABA. GABA is a natural substance in the body that is believed to play a role in allowing muscles to relax. Baclofen is similar to GABA and acts at the spinal cord, allowing muscles to relax.

Oral medications (pills) for spasticity may help some people. But because these oral medications circulate throughout the body in the blood, only a small amount actually reaches the site of action at the spinal cord. For some people with severe spasticity who take large doses of oral medications, the amount of medication that reaches the spinal cord is not enough to provide relief, and  increasing the dose may increase negative side effects.

ITB Therapy is different from oral medications because it delivers a liquid form of the drug baclofen directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, where it's needed. Because the medication is delivered directly to the site of action at the spinal cord, without circulating throughout the body, it relieves spasticity with very tiny amounts of medication (often less than a quarter of a teaspoon per day). This helps minimize side effects. Delivery makes the difference in ITB Therapy, which has been shown to be highly effective in people with severe spasticity, including those who have not had good results with oral medications.