A single injection of botulinum toxin type A into the tensor fasciae latae can improve symptoms of lateral patellaofemoral overload syndrome (LPOS), which is characterized by pain in the anterior and lateral parts of the knee during exercise, according to a study published online ahead of print in American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Researchers gave a botulinum injection to 45 patients who’d had LPOS for at least 3 months and hadn’t improved after a course of physical therapy. Patients reported on their symptoms before the injection; at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the injection; and at a mean of 5 years post-injection.
There was significant improvement in pain scores from before the injection to 1, 4, and 12 weeks after treatment, and in 87% of patients, this improvement was maintained at the 5-year follow-up.