title: Effect of upper limb botulinum toxin injections on impairment, activity, participation, and quality of life among stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to study the effect of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections in spastic upper limb muscles on impairment, activity, participation and quality of life in chronic stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  BoNT-A (Dysport) was injected into several upper limb spastic muscles in a group of 20 patients. Neurological impairment (muscle tone and strength, dexterity, SIAS), activity (ABILHAND), participation (SATIS-Stroke), and quality of life (SF36) were assessed before and 2 months after the injections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BoNT-A injections improved muscle tone, but had no impact on dexterity, manual ability, social participation, and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, BoNT-A injections in spastic upper limbs significantly reduced neurological impairments, but had no functional impact.
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gilles D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Caty
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Detrembleur
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bleyenheuft
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deltombe
authors.forename: Thierry M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lejeune
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D034941:Upper Extremity
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A