Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in stiffness in the gastrocnemius (GCM) muscle
following rehabilitation therapy and botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections in
patients with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: The study included 16
children with spastic CP (Group 1) and 17 healthy children (Group 2). The
children with CP received BTX-A injections and underwent rehabilitation therapy.
The GCM and soleus muscles of the CP group were evaluated according to the
modified Ashworth scale (MAS). The thicknesses of the muscles were measured, and
the elasticity score (ELX 2/1) index was calculated. RESULTS: The ELX 2/1 indices
of the gastromedialis (GM) and gastrolateralis (GL) were significantly higher in
Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). The ELX 2/1 indices in the GM and GL muscles
in the CP group were found to have decreased 4 weeks after the procedure (p <
0.05). Furthermore, the mean MAS score of the ankle decreased, from 3.4 to 2.6 (p
< 0.05). GM ELX 2/1 in Group 1 (post-treatment) was significantly different from
Group 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of clinical scales and
sonoelastography can provide valuable information for determining structural
changes in the GCM muscle following rehabilitation therapy and BTX-A injections.

Langue : ANGLAIS