As you may know, Botox is used in cosmetic surgery to improve appearance or in reconstructive surgery to correct defects, but it's also used to improve function for physical rehab patients.
What is spasticity?:
Spasticity is a common condition seen by physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians.
Spasticity is a disorder of the nervous system which causes increased activity of the muscle, such as jerkiness, tension, weakness or loss of dexterity.
Spasticity and other over-active muscles may produce disabling symptoms such as pain, spasm and disfigurement. It can interfere in daily activities performed by the patient or their caregiver, because the patient is unable to relax an arm or leg during
washing, bathing and dressing. Spasticity impairs the active function performed by the patient such as reaching, transferring and walking.
Evaluation:
Physicians today have a wide range of effective treatments available. The main objective of spasticity management is to improve function.
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Patients presenting with spasticity as a result of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Cerebral Palsy, stroke, Multiple Sclerosis or Neurodegeneration will benefit from a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether spasticity interferes significantly with functions like walking, dressing, bathing, eating, combing their hair, brushing their teeth.
The spasticity may interfere with not only the patient's ability to care for him or herself, but also may interfere with the ability of a caregiver to be able to provide adequate care for the patient.
Another factor to consider is will spasticity lead to pain, disability and musculoskeletal deformity.
Botox Treatment:
A comprehensive spasticity management program may include medical stabilization, elimination of unnecessary stimuli, physical and occupational therapies, oral medications, injections of Botox, and perhaps surgery.
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Botox injections play a unique role in the treatment of muscle activity which may allow the patient to attain treatment goals. Botox may assist patients who suffer from a rotated shoulder, flexed elbow, straightened stiff forearm, flexed wrist, clenched fist, hitchhiker's great toe, stiff knee, flexed knee, adducted thighs and flexed hips.
Botox will relax the muscle and reduce the pain associated with the spasticity. The result of the Botox treatment is long lasting. It is easy and safe to administer in the office setting.
If you or a loved one have further interest in exploring whether or not Botox
therapy would be of benefit to you, please feel free to ask your primary care
provider or contact Narayana Parasu, weekdays at (231) 796-3200.
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