ABSTRACT
DEFINITION A group of clinically and genetically diverse disorders characterized by progressive lower limb spasticity and weakness.
TERMINOLOGY Hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) is also known as familial spastic paraparesis and Strumpell-Lorrain syndrome. The term ‘hereditary spastic paraparesis’ is more precise because it indicates the genetic basis of this group of disorders; conditions that occur in families (familial) are not necessarily inherited (genetic).
