Stroke rehabilitation: "BOTOX® could be useful tool"

BOTOX® injections could provide an element of relief for patients going through the trauma of stroke rehabilitation.

A new study, led by Dr Elie Elovic of Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, has found that repeated treatment with botulinum toxin type A – which is marketed as BOTOX® by Allergan - helps to reduce upper limb spasticity following a stroke.

The treatment enabled patients to function better in their daily lives, requiring less assistance from caregivers.

Treatment with BOTOX® therefore benefited patients in several ways, Dr Elovic said.

"It significantly reduced spasticity in the wrist, fingers and elbow; and improved patients' ability to perform activities related to work as well as daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and mobility," she revealed.

"The improvements also were associated with statistically significant decreases in the number of hours per week patients required assistance, improving the quality of life not only for patients but also for caregivers."

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