Spasticity in Adults

There are numerous conditions which can be associated with spasticity in adults, the most common being Stroke, Parkinson's disease, and senile dementia. A minority of these can be helped with Botox alone. A common example would be the contractures of the fingers often seen in those with senile dementia. This is a condition which is not only debilitating, but can also be painful, as the fingernails start to dig into the palm. Botox injected into the overactive muscles allows the fingers to be brought out of the palm allowing hygiene and manicure, greatly improving quality of life.

In most cases of adult spastic conditions Botox must be combined with intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation to obtain optimal results. In these cases Botox should be considered as facilitating rehabilitation rather than as a definitive treatment.This requires a multidisciplinary dedicated team and is available only in specialist centres.