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Botulinum toxin and neuromotor rehabilitation: An integrated approach to idiopathic cervical dystonia
Author(s) -
Tassorelli Cristina,
Mancini Francesca,
Balloni Laura,
Pacchetti Claudio,
Sandrini Giorgio,
Nappi Giuseppe,
Martigi Emilia
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.21145
Subject(s) - cervical dystonia , medicine , botulinum toxin , neurological disorder , dystonia , physical therapy , rehabilitation , movement disorders , physical medicine and rehabilitation , central nervous system disease , anesthesia , psychiatry , disease
Abstract Currently, the best treatment option for idiopathic cervical dystonia (ICD) is injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) into the affected muscles, whereas rehabilitative approaches have given disappointing results. We evaluated whether the association of an ad hoc rehabilitative program may improve the clinical efficacy of BTX treatment in a single‐center, cross‐over, controlled study. Forty patients with ICD were randomly assigned to two different treatment groups: (1) BTX type A (BTX‐A) plus a specific program of physical therapy (BTX‐PT) or (2) BTX‐A alone (BTX‐0). Patients in the BTX‐PT group showed a longer duration of the clinical benefit (118.8 vs. 99.1 days) and needed a lower dose of BTX at reinjection (284.5 vs. 325.5 units). In addition, they showed more marked reductions in their disability in activities of daily living (−9.7 vs. −4.85 points) and subjective pain (−13.35 vs. 6.95 points) scores. Association of BTX‐A therapy with a specific program of physical therapy may improve ICD treatment outcome. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society