Botox helps children with cerebral palsy

In children with the movement disorder, cerebral palsy affecting one limb, injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox) appears to enhance the benefits gained from occupational therapy.Australian researchers from the Flinders University in Daw Park, randomly assigned 43 children with hemiplegic (one-sided) cerebral palsy to receive four sessions of occupational therapy (over 4 weeks) alone or in combination with a shot of Botox in the affected limb. It was found that children treated with Botox showed a significantly better improvement in body structure and activities participation at 3 months, compared with children given occupational therapy alone. Self-perception was also enhanced in the Botox group at 3 months. By 6 months, no differences were seen between the groups in activities participation or self-perception, but the benefit of Botox on body structure was still apparent.The current study adds to previous studies investigating the effects of Botox injections in the upper limb of children with cerebral palsy, but is unique given the findings related to improvement in self-worth.