Objective: To compare results from two approaches used in conjunction with botulinum toxin type A administration in rehabilitation: the application of a taping system and the electrical stimulation of the injected muscles and splinting.
Design: Case—control study.
Setting: Two tertiary care rehabilitation hospitals in Italy.
Subjects: Sixty-five adult subjects affected by spasticity of the wrist and finger flexors.
Interventions: After injection with botulinum toxin type A, the group at hospital A (n = 33) was treated with adhesive taping for six days and those at hospital B (n = 32) with electrical stimulation and splinting for six days. Spastic hypertonia at the injected muscles was assessed before treatment, one week and one month post injection.
Main measures: Modified Ashworth Scale.
Results: In group A, the mean Modified Ashworth Scale reduction was 2.76 ± 0.94 for wrist flexors and 2.45 ± 0.92 for finger flexors; in group B the mean Modified Ashworth Scale reduction was 2.18 ± 1.11 for wrist flexors and 2.1 ± 0.98 for finger flexors. The observed difference between the two groups was statistically relevant (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Patients treated with adhesive taping and botulinum toxin type A achieved a greater reduction in spastic hypertonia as measured with Modified Ashworth Scale, with less time dedicated for the treatment.
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