Exercise to Improve Sleep and Quality of Life in Stroke Patients Receiving Botulinum Toxin Treatment

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Sleep Quality, Quality of Life, and Functional Status in Stroke Patients Treated With Botulinum Toxin for Upper Extremity Spasticity

This study aimed to investigate the contribution of aerobic exercise programmes to improving sleep quality, quality of life, and functional status, alongside conventional rehabilitation, in stroke patients who had received botulinum toxin treatment for upper extremity spasticity.

This randomized controlled trial included 62 chronic stroke patients receiving BTX-A injections for upper extremity spasticity. Participants were randomized into two groups: one that participated in a 4-week aerobic exercise program and a control group that received conventional rehabilitation without aerobic exercise. The primary outcomes were functional independence, upper extremity motor development, walking speed, sleep quality and quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 62 patients aged 18-75 years who were planned for botulinum toxin treatment due to upper extremity spasticity following a stroke

Exclusion Criteria:

• Stroke patients who had BTX-A injections for lower extremity spasticity or had a Modified Ashworth Scale (MASH) score ≥ 2 for lower extremity spasticity,
• Uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases,
• Cognitive dysfunction,
• Flaccid stroke,
• Upper extremity disorders (fractures, frozen shoulder, arthritis, surgery),
• Pre-existing sleep disorders (obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, parasomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, or psychiatric disorders),
• Cancer diagnosis,
• Those who had received antispastic or antiepileptic treatment with dose changes in the last month