Secondary spasmodic torticollis and balance in hemiplegic stroke patients / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the influence of secondary spasmodic torticollis on the balance of hemiplegic stroke survivors and to compare the effects of different treatment protocols.Methods Fifty-six secondary spasmodic torticollis patients after stroke were randomly divided into three groups based on the type of treatment.The botulinum toxin (BTX) group received BTX-A injections and common support treatment plus rehabilitation training (n =19),the medication therapy group received oral baclofen and common support treatment plus rehabilitation training (n =18),and the routine rehabilitation group received only routine rehabilitation therapy (n =19).In addition,19 stroke cases without spasmodic torticollis served as a control group.They also were treated with routine rehabilitative treatment alone.Before and after 2 months of treatment,balance was assessed using Berg's balance scale,and spasmodic torticollis was evaluated using Tsui's scale.Results Before treatment the balance of the control group members was significantly better than that of the other three groups.After 2 months of therapy,balance function had improved significantly in all four groups.The balance of the botulinum toxin group was better than that of the medication and routine rehabilitation groups.After treatment,Tsui scale scores in the medication and botulinum toxin groups were significantly lower than before treatment,and the scores in the botulinum toxin group were significantly lower than in the medication and routine rehabilitation groups.There was no significant difference in Tsui scale scores before and after treatment in the control group.Conclusions Spasmodic torticollis inflaences the recovery of balance function in hemiplegic patients after stroke.Treating the spasmodic torticollis can improve their balance.Treatment with BTX-A combined with common support treatmcnt and rehabilitation training showed significant curativeeffect.