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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation (BreEStim) for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity
Published on: January 10, 2013
Taping versus electrical stimulation after botulinum toxin type A injection for wrist and finger spasticity. A
Stefano Carda1, Franco Molteni
1Ospedale Valduce-Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center, Via Nazario Sauro 17, 23845 Costamasnaga (LC), Italy. inghvber@tin.it
Objective:
To compare results from two approaches used in conjunction with botulinum toxin type A administration in rehabilitation: the application of a taping system and the electrical stimulation of the injected muscles and splinting.
Design:
Case-control study.
Setting:
Two tertiary care rehabilitation hospitals in Italy.
Subjects:
Sixty-five adult subjects affected by spasticity of the wrist and finger flexors.
Interventions:
After injection with botulinum toxin type A, the group at hospital A (n=33) was treated with adhesive taping for six days and those at hospital B (n=32) with electrical stimulation and splinting for six days. Spastic hypertonia at the injected muscles was assessed before treatment, one week and one month post injection.
Main Measures:
Modified Ashworth Scale.
Results:
In group A, the mean Modified Ashworth Scale reduction was 2.76 +/- 0.94 for wrist flexors and 2.45 +/- 0.92 for finger flexors; in group B the mean Modified Ashworth Scale reduction was 2.18 +/- 1.11 for wrist flexors and 2.1 +/- 0.98 for finger flexors. The observed difference between the two groups was statistically relevant (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Patients treated with adhesive taping and botulinum toxin type A achieved a greater reduction in spastic hypertonia as measured with Modified Ashworth Scale, with less time dedicated for the treatment.
