How effective is Physical Therapy for gait muscle activity in hemiparetic patients who received botulinum toxin injections? - Gait electromyography after BoNT-A

In this study, marked changes in muscle activity occurred in patients with stroke who had physical therapy after BoNT-A administration to the ankle plantar flexor muscles. These changes were increased biceps femoris activity and increased co-activation indices for the rectus femoris and biceps femoris during the loading-response phase, and increased tibialis anterior activity and decreased triceps surae and rectus femoris activities in the pre-swing and swing phases. Almost all patients in both treatment groups showed improved walking speed, and none reported gait deterioration. Physical therapy after BoNT-A administration increased the stability and leg-swing capability of the knee and could prevent decreased walking ability.