Described herein are methods of preventing, modulating and treating spasticity and maladaptive neuronal plasticity in patients having upper motor neuron lesions or have had a traumatic central nervous system event by early intervention methods. The methods comprise the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a botulinum toxin or derivative thereof to least a portion of a 1A sensory afferent of at least one muscle prior to development of spasticity or maladaptive neuronal plasticity becomes clinically apparent. The therapeutically effective amount of botulinum toxin administered to the 1A afferent of the muscle does not substantially affect the Golgi tendons therein.