Stiff-person syndrome (SPS), also known as stiff-man syndrome (SMS) or Moersch-Woltman syndrome, is a rare neurologic disorder in which a person develops episodes of muscle stiffness (rigidity) and painful spasms, often starting in the back but also occurring in the limbs and other areas of the body. Muscle rigidity may cause the person to have a stiffened or hunched over posture. Episodes of spasms and rigidity can fluctuate, but they often progress over time, causing chronic pain, impaired mobility, and in some cases life-threatening complications such as impaired breathing. The cause of SPS is unknown, but it is thought to be an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and sometimes occurs along with other autoimmune disorders as well as cancer.
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