28/04/2026
Evolution of goal setting and attainment over repeated cycles of botulinum toxin A for upper limb spasticity in real-life clinical practice: longitudinal analyses from the observational ULIS-III cohort study
Authors: Lynne Turner-Stokes, Klemens Fheodoroff, Jorge Jacinto, Mathieu Beneteau, Pascal Maisonobe, Christian Hannes, Stephen Ashford
The ULIS-III study followed people with upper limb (arm and shoulder) spasticity who were treated with botulinum toxin A over 2 years in routine practice. The aim was to understand how well patients achieved their personal treatment goals across repeated treatment cycles. Researchers focused on 538 individuals who received at least 4 cycles of botulinum toxin A and used a method called Goal Attainment Scaling to track progress. This approach allowed patients to set goals that were meaningful to them, such as improving movement or reducing pain. The study found that most patients continued to set the same types of goals over repeated injections and while the improvement in Goal Attainment Scaling scores became slightly smaller, the likelihood of achieving goals increased with each cycle. This suggests a cumulative benefit from repeated treatment. Importantly, how the treatment was delivered had a bigger impact on success than patient characteristics like age or s*x, indicating that most people have potential to benefit from this repeated treatment. Using techniques to guide the injection accurately into the target muscles – such as ultrasound, electromyogram, or electrical stimulation – was strongly linked to better outcomes. Higher doses of botulinum toxin A also improved the chances of success, although most patients were treated with doses below the maximum allowed. Overall, the study supports the long-term use of botulinum toxin A for managing upper limb spasticity and highlights the importance of setting clear goals and using precise injection techniques. These findings can help clinicians tailor treatment plans and improve outcomes for people living with spasticity.
https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.45139