Upper Limb Spasticity in Adults

Causes1-3

  • Stroke (most common cause)
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Spinal cord problems (such as lesions)
  • Cerebral palsy in adults

Symptoms3

  • Muscle stiffness (known as hypertonia)
  • Limited range of movement
  • Reduced ability to relax muscles
  • Muscle spasms
  • Changes in limb position
  • Pain
In clinical trials, most patients treated for upper limb spasticity
with XEOMIN were adults with post-stroke spasticity4-6

Common Occurrence after Stroke

  • Spasticity may be one of many possible consequences after a stroke1
  • There is a wide range of prevalence data in post-stroke spasticity, from as little as 19% to as much as 98% of patients7,8
  • The onset of spasticity after stroke is also highly variable. It may occur shortly after the stroke or more than 1 year later9

Clinical Presentation

Flexed elbow

Flexed wrist

Pronated forearm

Clenched fist

Thumb-in-palm

Ruben’s Story: How XEOMIN Treatment Helped Me

Ruben's story: upper limb spasticity video thumbnail
"With XEOMIN, I have gained greater symptom control. I move more naturally."
—Ruben, an adult with upper limb spasticity treated with XEOMIN

Individual results may vary.

Ruben, a patient with upper limb spasticity.

I had a stroke several years ago. After 3 months, I started having spasticity in my hand and began to experience a lot of muscle tightening and spasms in my right arm. It was affecting movement and stretching. My doctor eventually diagnosed me with upper limb spasticity.

I was receiving a lot of therapy, but the upper limb spasticity was overwhelming. I talked to my doctor about XEOMIN, and he explained to me the side effects, and we decided this was a good treatment option for me. After the first injection of XEOMIN, I felt a difference, and over time, I started to see improvements. I want to tell people with upper limb spasticity to talk with their doctor to get information on their options. I want to tell people not to give up. To not give up hope. It will be challenging, but it is not impossible.

Every patient's experience with XEOMIN will vary, and there are potential risks and side effects with XEOMIN. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if XEOMIN is right for you.

I am still very independent. I live by myself. I can do pretty much anything—it just takes longer. Some things are more challenging than others. Some things, like tucking in my shirt, take longer. The hard part is that I haven't been able to work. I was a mechanical engineer. Hydraulics, heavy equipment. All the tools are heavy and limit me.

I am always hoping for more treatment options. If I could gain more flexibility, then maybe life would be easier, and I would maybe even be able to go back to work. Hopefully, I could get back to doing more of the things that I did before.

Learn More About Dosing

References

  1. Spasticity, what is it? American Stroke Association website. https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke/physical-effects-of-stroke/physical-impact/spasticity. Accessed June 18, 2021.
  2. Differential diagnosis for spasticity. NeuroRehab Resource website. http://www.neurorehabresource.org/Files/NRR_Differential_Diagnosis.pdf. Accessed June 18, 2021.
  3. Spasticity. American Association of Neurological Surgeons website. https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Spasticity. Accessed June 18, 2021.
  4. Elovic EP, Munin MC, Kaňovský P, Hanschmann A, Hiersemenzel R, Marciniak C. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of incobotulinumtoxinA for upper-limb post-stroke spasticity. Muscle Nerve. 2016;53(3):415-421.
  5. Kaňovský P, Slawek J, Denes Z, et al. Efficacy and safety of botulinum neurotoxin NT 201 in poststroke upper limb spasticity. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2009;32(5):259-265.
  6. Barnes M, Schnitzler A, Medeiros L, Aguilar M, Lehnert-Batar A, Minnasch P. Efficacy and safety of NT 201 for upper limb spasticity of various etiologies—a randomized parallel-group study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2010;122(4):295-302.
  7. Wissel J, Schelosky LD, Scott J, Christe W, Faiss JH, Mueller J. Early development of spasticity following stroke: a prospective, observational trial. J Neurol. 2010;257(7):1067-1072.
  8. Ward AB. A literature review of the pathophysiology and onset of post-stroke spasticity. Eur J Neurol. 2012;19(1):21-27.
  9. Wissel J, Manack A, Brainin M. Toward an epidemiology of poststroke spasticity. Neurology. 2013;80(3 Suppl 2):S13-19.