A single blinded randomized controlled trial assesses the effectiveness of a program of specialized physical therapy (SPT) for cervical dystonia (CD) disability compared to regular physical therapy (RPT).
The study was published recently in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Study participants included 96 patients with primary CD and stable on Botulinum Toxin (BoNT) treatment for one year. After 12 months of treatment on the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating (TWSTR) disability scale, SPT showed no significant differences compared to RPT. Compared to baseline, both groups exhibited similar improvements.
Higher perceived effects of patients and general perception of health were positive results in the SPT group. In the SPT group, treatment costs were lower. The SPT program appears to be the preferred program for treating CD with lower costs and similar effects.
[Source: MDLinx Orthopedics]
