Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41441605›Full record

SynthesisToxins2025

Botulinum Toxin Combined with Robot-Assisted Therapy for Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Systematic Review.

Salvatore Facciorusso, Stefania Spina, Mirko Filippetti, Rajiv Reebye, Gerard E Francisco, Andrea Santamato

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Toxins, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Salvatore FacciorussoSpasticity and Movement Disorders "ReSTaRt" Unit, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Section, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6748-9152
Stefania SpinaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy.
Mirko FilippettiDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5930-5974
Rajiv ReebyeDivision of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2G9, Canada.
Gerard E FranciscoDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Texas Health McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5681-1916
Andrea SantamatoSpasticity and Movement Disorders "ReSTaRt" Unit, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Section, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Di Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1452-8485

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

(1) Background: Post-stroke spasticity limits motor recovery and independence. Combining botulinum toxin type-A (BoNT-A) injection with intensive, task-specific robot-assisted therapy (RAT) might enhance neuroplasticity and functional gains, but its additive effect and optimal timing are uncertain. (2) Methods: We systematically searched major medical databases and trial registries up to April 2025 for randomized controlled trials in adults with post-stroke spasticity comparing botulinum toxin type-A injection plus RAT with toxin injection plus conventional therapy, or RAT alone with RAT combined with toxin injection. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and findings were synthesized narratively. (3) Results: Seven trials (

Indexed as

Botulinum Toxins, Type AMuscle SpasticityNeuromuscular AgentsRoboticsStrokeStroke RehabilitationCombined Modality TherapyHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeBotulinum Toxins, Type ANeuromuscular Agentsbotulinum toxinrobot-assisted therapyspasticitystroke

Identifiers

PMID41441605
PMCPMC12737565

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.