Journal
NEUROREHABILITATION
Volume 36, Issue 1, Pages 67-72Publisher
IOS PRESS
DOI: 10.3233/NRE-141193
Keywords
Stroke; spasticity; rehabilitation; extracorporeal shock wave therapy; spinal excitability; H-reflex
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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.
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