Botox isn't just a cosmetic medicine that can erase facial wrinkles - for some, it's a necessity. The injectable cosmetic can be used for many different purposes aside from reducing the signs of aging, as shown by a recent story from Indiana's News Center.

The media source profiled a 16-year-old boy named Josh Zahm, who was born with cerebral palsy. This condition causes the muscles in his leg joints to spasm, which affects his ability to walk. In fact, Zahm didn't take his first steps until he was 5 years old.

His physician, Dr. Tom Lazoff, is treating the teen with Botox. He gives Zahm eight shots of Botox in his hamstrings, which causes the leg muscles to relax. It's a much simpler and less invasive option to the painful surgeries it would take to artificially extend the tendons in his legs.

"In about that time, three weeks, he'll notice decreased pain, decreased muscle spasms or tightness, and increased range of motion," Lazoff told the news source.

So far, it seems to be working. Zahm says the treatments have made him feel "better than he has in years."

Though they serve a very different purpose, injections of Botox used to treat signs of aging function in a similar way as Zahm's treatment. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, cosmetic surgeons inject Botox into the muscles of the face that cause wrinkles, such as those around the mouth, eyes and forehead. This "freezes" the muscles, making it impossible for them to carry out the motions that create lines in the face. Those who are interested in "turning back the hands of time" may want to ask a board-certified plastic surgeon about their various options.