Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Injections for Neck and Shoulder Myofascial Pain .
Efficacy of botulinum toxin in myofascial pain in neck and shoulder-systematic review and meta-analysis.
Int J Rehabil Res . 2025 Jun 1;48(2):83-89.Seven randomized controlled trials including 261 patients with myofascial pain of the neck and shoulder were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections with saline injections. Pooled outcomes of interest included pain reduction (VAS/NRS). The pooled weighted mean difference favored BTX-A, but the difference did not meet the threshold for clinical significance. Meta-regression showed no significant association between BTX-A dose and treatment effect. The overall evidence was graded as moderate. These findings suggest BTX-A does not provide clinically meaningful benefits over saline for myofascial pain in the neck and shoulder and should not be recommended for routine clinical use.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics
Or upgrade today and gain access to all OrthoEvidencecontent for as little as $1.99 per week.
Already have an account? Log in
0 of 4 monthly FREE articles unlocked
