Trial Is Studying Whether Botox Can Help Diplegic Children Walk Better

Botulinum toxin A injections could help diplegic children walk better, and few things are as important to living a productive, independent life as being able to move from one place to another. A new study is working to determine if Botox when combined with ankle weights can improve the gait of children who use ankle and foot braces.

The research project was conducted in 2021 by Nahla Mohamed Ibrahim, a lecturer in physical therapy at Cairo University. Final results have not been published.

The researchers involved 60 children in this controlled trial. A third were treated with classical gait rehabilitation techniques, a third with the same training plus ankle weights and a third with rehabilitation, weights and Botox injections. Testing was done to determine range of motion and other indicators of gait improvement over 3 months. Participants were asked to walk forward, backward and sideways on a balance board, among other things.

What is Diplegia

Diplegia is a form of paralysis associated with cerebral palsy. Other research has shown that Botox injections can help with muscle stiffness and over-activity in people with CP. If these conditions are not treated in some way, deformities of the limbs and spine are possible. While Botox for children with CP is considered safe, infections and other side effects are possible, just as with any injection.

Other conditions that can be treated with Botulinum toxin A injections include teeth clenching, migraine, TMD, bladder overactivity and more.

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