That's Fit

Dick Hoyt, 67, and his son Rick, 46, have accomplished more than many of us could imagine. They've climbed mountains, completed 224 triathlons (including six Ironmans), 66 marathons, a 45-day cross-country bike ride, and more. Obviously, that's inspiring in and of itself.

What makes it AMAZING is that Rick is a quadriplegic and cannot walk or talk -- he was born with cerebral palsy, which kept him from ever being able to control his muscles and limbs, including his vocal chords.

Dick started participating in races and endurance events with his son when Rick was just 11, and the duo hasn't taken more than two weeks off since. Dick continues to train and compete because Rick gets so much joy out of it, and it makes him happy to see his son happy.

Kids who have cerebral palsy often have stiff muscles that sporadically contract, and over-react to stimulation. Gaining any additional control over muscle movement is seen a significant improvement -- and, according to a recent study, that's just what Botox might be able to provide.

Technically, this is old news, with the first reports of Botox's success in treating kids with cerebral palsy published in 1993. However, that initial report, and the many that followed, had difficulty determining just how much the drug was helping patients. But in the most-recent study, researchers were able to accurately measure the positive effects of Botox -- finding that worked to treat the physiologic and mechanical effects of cerebral palsy in a "genuine and measurable" way.

While this is certainly exciting news for those effected by the condition, researchers also note that the effects may not be dramatic enough to be perceived by patients and their families -- so they caution that patients' expectations should be managed accordingly.