Botulinum Toxin Injections or Application of Splints: Impact on Spasticity, Range of Motion and Function of Upper Extremity in Chronic Stroke Patients

Spasticity or increase in muscle tone is one of the problems following stroke. Due to this increase in muscle tone, patients are confronted to problems in motor control and difficulties in activities of daily living and complications such as shortness and contracture. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of using splint or botulinum toxin injection on spasticity, range of motion and upper extremity function in a 3-month period. The method of this research study was a two comparison design, done in rehabilitation clinics in Tehran. At first, 50 patients with chronic stroke were selected and based on the inclusion criteria, a total of 28 stroke patients after completing the consent forms were entered to intervention groups of splint or botulinum toxin injection and they were followed up about 3 months. At last, 18 patients completed the study. Goniometery was the method to measure range of motion, and Modified Ashworth scale was used to examine the spasticity and the upper extremity function was scored based on Fugl-Meyer assessment. All outcome measures improved in each group, but the differences between two groups were not significant (p value > 0.05). In this study, the effects of botulinum toxin injection and Volar-Dorsal Wrist/Hand Immobilization splint were not significantly different between the interventions in a 3-month follow-up.