Physical therapy program for cervical dystonia: a study of 20 cases

Abstract

Botulinum toxin (BTX) is the best therapeutic option inpatients with cervical dystonia (CD), but physical therapy (PT) can be added to the treatment to achieve better results. Forty of our 70 patients with CD were en-rolled in a controlled open study. Subjects were divided into two groups: G1 (intervention group comprising patients receiving BTX and PT) and G2 (control group comprising patients receiving BTX only). Both groups were assessed using the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). On the TWSTRS, significant improvements in disease severity were seen in G1 and G2 but significant improvements on the pain and disability subscales were seen only in G1 patients.There was a significant difference only on the pain sub-scale between G2 and G1 following treatment. An analysis of the physical aspects of SF-36 showed significant improvement in G1 on three subscales. An intergroup difference was also seen on two subscales.Regarding emotional aspects, G1 showed a significant improvement on three subscales. A significant difference on two subscales was also seen between G2 and G1 following treatment. BTX plus PT treatment achieved symptom relief in patients with CD and improved their quality of life.