Significant improvements were also noted in the amount of assistance required by caregivers. A reduction was noted in both hours of care provided each week as well as the number of days caregivers missed work to care for the patient.
Spasticity occurs when muscles in some areas of the body are overactive, making them tight, sometimes painful, difficult to relax and often less functional. It is estimated that 19-38% of stroke patients develop spasticity. This type of spasticity is especially disruptive because it can interfere with patient mobility, positioning, care, comfort, as well as dressing, hygiene, washing, and other activities of daily living.
BoNTA injections were given to block overactive nerves that trigger excessive muscle contractions. Researchers found that at week six of the study, muscle tone was markedly decreased from baseline, and the improvement was sustained throughout the one-year study.
Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 6.5% of patients. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported.
“The low incidence of adverse events associated with BoNTA treatment in this year-long study suggests that BoNTA may represent a clear advantage over many oral anti-spasticity medications, which are associated with a high incidence of systemic side effects,” said Dr Elie Elovic lead investigator in the study.
This study was supported by a grant from the manufacturer of Botox, Allergan. The research was conducted by Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation.