Effects Of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy On Spasticity And Motor Function In Post-stroke Subjects

Background: Nearly 30% of stroke survivors can undergo spasticity which impairs their quality of life. Though there is a variety of anti-spasticity means for strokes in clinic at present, all the means have some shortcomings. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a newly non- invasive tool to relieve spasticity, but its effect on spasticity and motor function in strokes is not clear. In this study, we wan to assess whether spasticity and motor function could be improved in post-stroke subjects by intervening spastic muscles with shock wave.Methods: There are two parts in the whole study. Lower extremity section: The included 20 patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. In addition to the conventional rehabilitation therapy, the treatment group and control group were also given radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy and placebo stimulation on the spastic calf muscles and tibialis posterior, respectively. Composite spasticity scale, timed ?up & go? test and i EMG of tibialis anterior muscle were assessed before and after treatment. Upper extremity section: The included 22 patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. In addition to the conventional rehabilitation therapy, the treatment group and control group were also given radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy and placebo stimulation on the spastic flexor digitorum, respectively.modified ashworth scale, fugl- meyer motor assessment of upper extremity and modified barthel index were assessed before and after treatment.Results: The lower section: There are no significant differences between the treatment group and control group of demographic datas and the statistics of CSS, TUGT and i EMG before treatment(P>0.05). Significant differences in TUGT and i EMG were found within each group before and after treatment(P<0.05). In treatment group, there is a significant difference in CSS befo re and after intervention(P<0.05). The change of CSS before and after treatment in treatment group is significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05), however, there are no significant differences in that changes of TUGT and i EMG between groups(P>0.05). The upper section: There is no significant difference between the treatment group and control group of demographic datas and the statistics of MAS, FMA-UE and MBI before treatment(P>0.05). Significant differences in FMA-UE and MBI were found within each group before and after treatment(P<0.05). In treatment group, there is a significant difference in MAS before and after intervention(P<0.05). The change of MAS before and after treatment in treatment group is significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05), however, there are no significant differences in that changes of FMA-UE and MBI between groups(P>0.05).Conclusions: Radial extracorporeal shock wave can effectively improve the spasticity in upper and lower extremity of patients with stroke. Although we didn't observe any improvement in motor function in a short time, long-term follow up effects were needed..