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Botulinum toxin injections for spasticity and dystonia
Category: Brain, Nerve & Sleep Tests · All brain, nerve & sleep tests
What it is
Botulinum toxin injections temporarily weaken overactive muscles. In neurology they are used for spasticity (stiffness after stroke, in multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy) and dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions, for example in the neck — cervical dystonia — eyelids or writer's cramp), and also for chronic migraine in specialist clinics following defined criteria.
Why it is done
Treatment aims to reduce stiffness and pain, improve positioning, hygiene and function, prevent contractures, and ease involuntary movements. Effects are targeted to the specific muscles causing the problem.
How to prepare
Your team will assess which muscles are involved, using examination and sometimes ultrasound or electrical (EMG) guidance to place injections accurately. Tell the team about swallowing problems, neuromuscular conditions, pregnancy and any previous toxin treatments and their effects. No fasting is needed.
What happens during the procedure
Small injections are made into the selected muscles through a fine needle; the number varies from a few to many depending on the pattern. You may feel brief stinging; local anaesthetic is rarely needed. The appointment takes about 20 to 40 minutes. Physiotherapy and stretching programmes usually accompany treatment to maximise benefit.
Afterwards — recovery & results
Effects begin over several days, peak at about two to six weeks, and wear off over about three months, when treatment can be repeated. Your team reviews the response to adjust muscles and doses next time. Note any unwanted weakness or — for neck injections — swallowing difficulty, and report it.
Risks & considerations
Risks include excessive weakness of injected or nearby muscles, bruising, flu-like feelings (uncommon), and for cervical dystonia, temporary swallowing difficulty or neck weakness. Serious spread effects are rare with therapeutic dosing and careful technique.
Watch: Botulinum toxin injections for spasticity and dystonia videos
Real procedure videos from the MedicalVideos.com library. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as cosmetic Botox?
The same family of medicines, used for medical indications at different sites and often higher doses, prescribed and injected by specialist teams for functional goals.
Why repeat every three months?
The nerve endings recover and sprout new connections over about three months, so the effect fades. Spacing treatments at least three months apart also reduces the chance of antibody resistance.
Related procedures — Brain, Nerve & Sleep Tests
Browse the B section of the A–Z list or return to the Procedures & Tests hub.