title: The effect of injecting botulinum toxin type a into the calf muscles on freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: a double blind placebo-controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect on freezing of gait (FOG) of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  BTX-A 150 IU or normal saline was injected into each leg's calf muscles by a blinded investigator. FOG severity was assessed at set intervals (6-month follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven age- and disease severity-matched PD patients with disabling FOG participated. Six patients received BTX-A and 5 received saline. No improvement was observed in either group over time. Leg weakness and falls lead to early termination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BTX-A injections to the legs did not improve FOG and might increase fall risk.
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorders Unit, Parkinson Center, Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gurevich
authors.forename: Chava
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weizmann
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giladi
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D010919:Placebos; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A