Spasticity

In November 2001, Health Canada approved Botox® injections to reduce spasticity that can occur after a stroke, when muscles no longer respond to signals from the central nervous system telling them to relax, and they remain contracted instead. Examples of post-stroke spasticity include a clenched fist, flexed wrist, bent elbow, or arm pressed against the chest.

Botox® relaxes the affected muscles, reducing spasticity and helping patients function more normally, with improvements in hygiene, dressing, and pain. The safety and efficacy of the injections in the treatment of wrist and finger spasticity after stroke were examined in a large study of 126 patients. Botox® was better than placebo (non-drug injections) in improving wrist and finger muscle tone and reducing disability in daily life for at least 3 months following one treatment. Side effects were mild and included pain at the injection site, headache, dizziness, and muscle weakness (Brashear 2002).

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