A single blind,clinical trial to investigate the effects of a single session extracorporeal shock wave therapy on wrist flexor spasticity after stroke

Abstract

Background:

Spasticity is a common, serious symptom after stroke. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been suggested for the treatment of muscle spasticity.

Objective:

To investigate the effects of ESWT on post stroke wrist flexor spasticity.

Methods:

Fifteen patients with poststroke wrist flexor spasticity (12 male and 3 female with a mean age of 54 years) were enrolled. Patients received 1 sham ESWT followed by 1 active ESWT 1 week later. The outcome measures were the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), the H_max/M_max ratio, and the Brunnstrom motor recovery stage.

Results:

The sham ESWT had not effects on the outcome measures. After active ESW, the MMAS scores of spasticity and the H_max/M_max ratio improved. The improvements were maintained 5 weeks after active ESWT. No significant improvements were observed for the motor recovery after sham or active ESWT.

Conclusions:

In adult patients after stroke, a single session of active ESWT resulted in significant improvement in the wrist flexor spasticity and alpha motor neuron excitability.