title: Effects of botulinum neurotoxin on spatio-temporal gait parameters of patients with chronic stroke: a prospective open-label study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nowadays, administration of botulinum neurotoxin type A is considered a safe, well tolerated and effective treatment for muscles tone reduction in focal spasticity care. Lack of evidence regards instead its functional role on gait parameters, as well patterns.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the botulinum neurotoxin treatment efficacy on chronic poststroke subjects, in order to investigate its functional effects on spatio-temporal gait parameters, in addition to the evaluation of spasticity grade based on clinical scales.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective open-label study along 16-weeks trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient neurophysiology rehabilitation structure and laboratory of movement and gait analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty chronic poststroke patients, suffering from equinovarus foot deformity, with a stabilized hemiparesis were recruited according to inclusion criteria of the protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single neurotoxin-based local intramuscular injections were given according to a specific protocol concerning both the considered muscles and the relative toxin doses, with a maximum total dose ranged between 200 U and 400 U. Patients were observed both at baseline (t0) and for 4 following monthly visits (t1, t2, t3, t4) after injections at baseline. Gait analysis sessions were performed at each visit, by means of a video-cameras based system and body reflective markers attached to the body, based on a protocol. Authors focus on both global and local gait temporospatial parameters, such as walking speed, stride-length, cadence, stride-time, step-width, single limb support, double support and limp index to point out the functional changes due to the treatment. For comparison prior to and after the treatment, clinical scales like Modified Ashworth Scale, Berg Balance Scale and Rivermead Mobility Index have been also considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subsequent to the neurotoxin intramuscular injections, patients reported statistical significant gait improvements after 90 days (t3) regarding temporospatial parameters: (P<0.05) for walking speed, single limb support and double support and (P<0.10) for stride-length, stride-time, cadence and step-width.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The botulinum neurotoxin treatment has demonstrated its efficacy for a functional recovery of gait, as pointed out by a statistically significant improvement of some spatio-temporal parameters. Thus, the analyzed changes reveal an improved balance and self-confidence in gait. Studies involving a wider population data are nevertheless needed to better confirm this efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The poststroke botulinum neurotoxin-based treatment is a safe and potentially useful neurorehabilitative approach for the analyzed data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy - giulia.lisco@polito.it.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lisco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pastorelli
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dimanico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A