Botox used to make ageing joints feel younger

Botox may do more than make people look younger – it may make them feel younger too. A single injection of Botox has been found to significantly decrease pain and improve shoulder function in osteoarthritis sufferers, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual scientific meeting.

Injection of Botox, technically known as intra-articular botulinum neurotoxin, into joints is a promising new approach for treating sustained shoulder pain brought on by arthritis. An injection of neurotoxin in the joint may work by decreasing the release of certain proteins from the nerves in the joints – thereby decreasing the pain sensation in the joint.

Researchers recently studied the effectiveness of Botox versus placebo in patients with chronic shoulder pain, due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, who did not respond to corticosteroids or pain medication.

By comparing pain levels before beginning treatment to pain levels 28 days after the treatment, researchers found that pain levels were much lower in the patients receiving neurotoxin compared to placebo.

Thirty-eight percent of patients receiving the injection of Botox into the joint had at least a 30% reduction in pain score compared to only 9% of patients in the placebo group. There was a trend toward a greater improvement in shoulder function in the botulinum toxin group, as compared to the placebo group at 28 days.