Botox

 Botulinum toxin A (BtA), often referred to as the product name Botox, has become popular in celebrity cosmetics and lauded as a safe way to hide the signs of aging. Despite its endorsed merits as a makeover tool, BtA was first experimented on eye disorders in the 1970’s. Since these first experiences, other exploratory studies have been done assessing BtA as tool for reducing spasticity or muscle tone in several neurological disorders. Examples include Parkinson’s disease, cortical basal degeneration, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy (CP) among others. Studies on CP patients date back to 1988 and have become prevalent since commercially produced types of BtA were made available in 1989.

There has been no single focus for the application of BtA with CP patients. Study objectives include trying to stem drooling, improve gait, reduce muscle tone in the upper and lower extremities, improve the energy expenditure during walking, decrease post-operative pain, diminish hip migration, and enhance functional skills. Objective research has also sought to discover optimal doses of BtA balancing the safety of patients with the benefits of treatment.