A pilot study to investigate the efficacy of low-dose botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of spastic dropped foot in stroke patients

Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) in combination with Physical Therapy (PT) may improve Spastic Dropped Foot (SPF), one disabling condition often encountered in stroke patients. However, the doses prescribed have varied a lot in the literature. We studied retrospectively 11 stroke patients (6 women, 5 men) who were given low-dose BTA into gastrosoleus/tibialis posterior muscles (50 U into every point) to treat spasticity. Muscle tone, ankle goniometry and FIM motor index were assessed pre and post-treatment as well as subjective improvement by the examiner. There was some improvement in the mus:Je tone, but there was no significant improvement regarding the other features. All patients had a subjective improvement. According to our preliminary data, low-dose BTA seemed to be little effective in improving SDF.