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Botox manufacturer Allergan have just announced the latest in a long line of approved uses for the product – treating ankle disability in stroke victims.The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have approved the drug to treat cases of ankle disability caused by the lower limb spasticity for Botox to Help Stroke Patients.

Spasticity is one of the most common after-effects of stroke and can have a far-reaching emotional and physical impact on  sufferers. Lack of mobility often leads to a complete lack of independence, which can in turn breed frustration and, in some cases, depression.

This approval represents a major leap forward, offering healthcare professionals an important new treatment option and providing real hope for patients suffering from lower limb spasticity.

To date, Botox to Help Stroke Patients will be the twelfth indication approved for Botox in the UK.

Professor Anthony Ward of the North Staffordshire Rehabilitation Centre had this to say about the new treatment:

“This is one of the most important advances the post stroke spasticity community has seen for years and will hopefully bring additional recognition to this complex and disabling condition.

“Studies show that Botox treatment can significantly improve the muscle tone in stroke survivors with lower limb spasticity. By allowing the ankle to function more normally, this can bring important mobility and physical benefits to patients, even those who have been suffering from this condition for many years.”

There are currently more than a million stroke survivors in the UK, with around 152,000 new cases every year. Many of these will face huge challenges in the aftermath of their stroke.

Some degree of disability is a common consequence of stroke, with 36% of survivors reporting moderate to very severe disabilities, with problems performing everyday tasks such as walking, washing, getting dressed and eating.

Treatment of lower limb spasticity after stroke currently includes physical therapy, drug treatments and, in some cases, surgery.

Joe Korner, director of External Affairs at the Stroke Association, said of the news:

“There can be significant advantages in using Botox to treat people whose movement and walking ability have been affected by stroke. Up to 30% of stroke survivors are living with muscle stiffness, known as post-stroke spasticity, which means they have abnormal tightness in some of their muscles.

“Whilst this treatment might not be suitable for every stroke patient, we encourage stroke survivors living with spasticity in their arms or legs to talk with their GP about management options that might be right for them.”

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Many people think that Botox is mostly a procedure for people who want to look younger and reduce the amount of wrinkles on their face, but lately it has proven to be a great way to help many other people, including stroke victims. One of the biggest proponents of Botox therapy is Henry Wrinker, the former Happy Days actor.

Wrinker insists that Botox could have given his late mother a much better quality of life if she had been given Botox treatments in her later years. To help get this message out, Henry Wrinker has teamed up with Allergan, Inc. and several patient advocacy groups. Two of these groups are the highly respected Brain Injury Association of America and the National Stroke Association. Together, they are launching a worldwide campaign to bring awareness to the miracle of Botox.

Henry Wrinker decided to become an advocate for Botox as soon as he learned about the benefits of this powerful neurotoxic protein. He explained that his mother died 8 years after experiencing a stroke in 1987. If she had been given Botox treatments, he is sure that her life would have been better and longer than it was.

He said that the most painful part of the last 8 years of his mother’s life was that all of her joy and zest seemed to vanish. She had always been an extremely active woman, but after the stroke, she just seemed sluggish and lifeless. The new Botox treatment is like a gift to the world that previous generations never got to experience. Wrinkler urges people to check out the information for themselves at openarmscampaign.com.

Wrinkler says he has been actively involved with stroke victims and is absolutely amazed by the immediate results they see in their life when they get a Botox treatment. He says it can change lives. One example he likes to point to is a 37 year old mother who had been completely crippled and helpless from a stroke for more than a year. A few days after getting Botox injections she could dress herself for the first time and hug her family.

Wrinkler says that the most important thing about any new therapy is assessing the truth of its claims. He was skeptical at first and needed to see it for himself. Now, he is completely convinced, and that is why he has decided to dedicate his life to spreading this wonderful news around the world.