Publication
Title
The effect of a single botulinum toxin treatment on somatosensory processing in idiopathic isolated cervical dystonia : an observational study
Author
Abstract
Background Patients with idiopathic cervical dystonia (CD) experience involuntary neck muscle contractions, abnormal head position and pain accompanied by dysfunctions in somatosensory processes such as postural control, cervical sensorimotor and perception of visual verticality. First-line treatment is injection with botulinum toxin (BoNT). It remains unclear whether this affects sensorimotor processes. Aim To investigate the effect of first-line care on deficiencies in somatosensory processes. Methods In this observational study, 24 adult patients with idiopathic CD were assessed three times over a treatment period of 12 weeks following a single treatment with BoNT. Disease severity was assessed by a disease-specific questionnaire, rating scale and the visual analogue scale. Seated postural control was assessed with posturography, cervical sensorimotor control was assessed by the joint repositioning error with an eight-camera infrared motion analysis system during a head repositioning accuracy test and perception of visual verticality was assessed with the subjective visual vertical test. Results Disease symptoms significantly improved following BoNT injections and deteriorated again at 12 weeks. This improvement was not accompanied by improved postural control, cervical sensorimotor control and perception of visual verticality. A trend toward improvement was seen; however, it did not reach the level of the control population. Conclusion The peripheral and central treatment effects of BoNT have little to no effect on postural and cervical sensorimotor control in CD. Further research may explore whether sensory training or specialized exercise therapy improves somatosensory integration and everyday functioning in patients with CD.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of neurology. - Berlin, 1974, currens
Publication
Berlin : 2018
ISSN
0340-5354 [print]
1432-1459 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S00415-018-9045-Y
Volume/pages
265 :11 (2018) , p. 2672-2683
ISI
000448450200019
Pubmed ID
30196326
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 10.10.2018
Last edited 04.03.2024
To cite this reference