Highlights
- •Forty chronic stroke patients with upper-limb spastic paresis were enrolled an RCT.
- •Control group (CG) received repetitive facilitative exercise (RFE) program only.
- •Intervention group (IG) received BoNT-A injection combined with the RFE program.
- •Motor control and motor functions were evaluated during 4-week study period.
- •IG evidenced significantly greater improvement in the outcome measures than CG.
Abstract
Study design
An open-label, randomized, controlled, observer-blinded trial.
Introduction
Repetitive facilitative exercise (RFE) is a movement therapy to recover from hemiparesis
after stroke. However, improvement is inhibited by spasticity. Recently, botulinum
toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection has been shown to reduce spasticity.
Purpose
To examine the combined effect of an RFE program and BoNT-A treatment on upper-limb
spastic paresis in chronic stroke.
Methods
Forty chronic stroke inpatients with upper-limb spastic paresis (Brunnstrom stage
≥III and Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] score ≥1) were enrolled. Subjects were randomized
into 2 groups of 20 each and received 4 weeks of treatment. The intervention group
received RFE and BoNT-A injection; the control group underwent RFE only. Assessments
were performed at baseline and at study conclusion. The primary outcome was change
in Fugl–Meyer Assessment score for the upper extremity (FMA). The Action Research
Arm Test (ARAT), active range of motion, Box and Block Test, and MAS were also evaluated.
Results
All participants completed this study. After 4 weeks, the intervention group evidenced
a significantly greater increase in FMA score (median 11.0 [range 4-20]) than the
control group (median 3.0 [range 0-9]) (P < .01, r = 0.79); as well as improvements in the other measures such as ARAT (median 12.5
[range 4-22] vs 7 [0-13]) (P < .01, r = 0.6), and MAS in the elbow flexors (median −1.5 [range −2 to 0] vs −1 [−2 to 0])
(P < .01, r = 0.45).
Discussion
A high degree of repetitive volitional movement induced by the facilitative technique
with concomitant control of spasticity by BoNT-A injection might increase efficiency
of motor learning with continuous movement of the affected upper-limb.
Conclusions
The combination of RFE and BoNT-A for spastic paresis might be more effective than
RFE alone to improve upper-limb motor function and to lessen impairment in chronic
stroke.
Keywords
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JHT Read for Credit
Quiz: # 915
Record your answers on the Return Answer Form found on the tear-out coupon at the back of this issue or to complete online and use a credit card, go to JHTReadforCredit.com. There is only one best answer for each question.
- # 1.The study design is
- a.qualitative
- b.RCTs
- c.case series
- d.n = 1
- a.
- # 2.BoNT-A was used because of its reputation for
- a.enhancing proprioception
- b.improving motor power
- c.eliminating spasticity
- d.reducing spasticity
- a.
- # 3.The control group received
- a.neither the RFE nor the BoNT-A
- b.both the RFE and the BoNT-A
- c.only the RFE
- d.only the BoNT-A
- a.
- # 4.The outcome measure was the
- a.Brunnstrom Function Assessment
- b.FMA
- c.AMF
- d.DASH
- a.
- # 5.The combined therapies were definitively shown to be effective
- a.not true
- b.true
- a.
When submitting to the HTCC for re-certification, please batch your JHT RFC certificates in groups of 3 or more to get full credit.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 26, 2021
Accepted:
January 21,
2021
Received in revised form:
January 15,
2021
Received:
July 29,
2019
Footnotes
Declaration of competing interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
