Early Identification, Intervention and Management of Post-stroke Spasticity: Expert Consensus Recommendations.

Stroke patients with spasticity usually require long-lasting care and interventions but frequently report that outpatient and community treatment is limited, reflecting a significant unmet need in health and social care provision. Rehabilitation and spasticity management services are essential for patient recovery, with improvements in both activity and participation reducing the burden on patients, family and society. Current clinical guidance provides scope for improvements in both post-stroke management and spasticity prevention.

Can the early use of botulinum toxin in post stroke spasticity reduce contracture development? A randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Does early treatment of spasticity with botulinum-toxin (BoNTA), in (hyper)acute stroke patients without arm-function, reduce contractures and improve function.

Design: Randomised placebo-controlled-trial.

Setting: Specialised stroke-unit.

Ultrasound Structural Changes in Triceps Surae After a 1-Year Daily Self-stretch Program: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial in Chronic Hemiparesis.

Introduction: The effects of long-term stretching (>6 months) in hemiparesis are unknown. This prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled trial compared changes in architectural and clinical parameters in plantar flexors of individuals with chronic hemiparesis following a 1-year guided self-stretch program, compared with conventional rehabilitation alone.

Methods: Adults with chronic stroke-induced hemiparesis (time since lesion >1 year) were randomized into 1 of 2, 1-year rehabilitation programs: conventional therapy (CONV) supplemented with the Guided Self-rehabilitation Contract (GSC) program, or CONV alone.