Retraining muscles to move smoothly in cerebral palsy cases

Two years ago, Adam Leon, 16, couldnt raise his right arm.

He has cerebral palsy caused by a stroke before or just after birth that left his right arm and wrist stiff.

Then in January 2012, Adam started getting Botox treatments from Dr. Roberto Lopez-Alberola, a pediatric neurologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Every three months, Lopez-Alberola injects the toxin into the affected muscles using electromyography to hear the nerves firing and target the right ones.

Actually its the nerve were paralyzing. The muscle that was previously very tight or spastic now becomes relaxed, Lopez-Alberola explained.

They put electrodes on my upper arms, and then the doctor injects the syringe full of the Botox, Adam said. The machine makes noises. [The targeted muscle] sounds like static, Adam said.

The injections, coupled with intensive physical therapy and workouts in a Kendall gym with a personal trainer, have enabled Adam to extend his arm.

I can carry groceries, I can turn doorknobs, it improves my balance, Adam said, adding that it takes a lot of brain power to learn to work unused muscles.

Before, I felt low. My arm was so stiff and everyone would look at me, but now its getting better, said Adam, who specializes in the mile run. He hopes to continue the treatment as long as it takes to get equality between my left and my right arms.

Adams therapy is one of several innovative treatments for cerebral palsy in South Florida.

Unfortunately, the Botox treatment, although its been used for over 15 years, it doesnt even yet have the FDAs approval for children. Yet in the rest of the world, its pretty much standard, Lopez-Alberola said. The injections, along with physical therapy, Lopez-Alberola said, have made a dramatic impact on the quality of life.

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Retraining muscles to move smoothly in cerebral palsy cases