The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Lower Limb Spasticity in Subacute Stroke Patients
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
;
: 461-470, 2013.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-173398
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on lower limb spasticity in subacute stroke patients.METHODS:
We studied thirty hemiplegic subacute stroke patients with ankle plantar flexor spasticity. ESWT was applied for 1 session/week, with a total of 3 sessions at the musculotendinous junction of medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. Patients were evaluated both clinically and biomechanically at baseline, after sham stimulation, and at immediately 1 week and 4 weeks after ESWT. For clinical assessment, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), clonus score, passive range of motion of ankle, and Fugl-Myer Assessment for the lower extremity were used. A biomechanical assessment of spasticity was conducted by an isokinetic dynamometer. Two parameters, peak eccentric torque (PET) and torque threshold angle (TTA), were analyzed at the velocities of 60degrees/sec, 180degrees/sec, and 240degrees/sec.RESULTS:
After sham stimulation, there were no significant changes between each assessment. MAS and PET (180degrees/sec and 240degrees/sec) were significantly improved immediately and 1 week after ESWT. However, these changes were not significant at 4 weeks after ESWT. PET (60degrees/sec) and TTA (60degrees/sec, 180degrees/sec, and 240degrees/sec) were significantly improved immediately after ESWT. Yet, these changes were not significant at 1 week and 4 weeks after ESWT as well.CONCLUSION:
Lower limb spasticity in subacute stroke patients was significantly improved immediately after ESWT. Although the therapeutic effect of ESWT reduced with time and therefore was not significant at 4 weeks after ESWT, the degree of spasticity was lower than that of the baseline. Future studies with a larger sample of patients are warranted in order to verify the protocols which can optimize the effect of ESWT on spasticity.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Shock
/
Salicylamides
/
Range of Motion, Articular
/
Torque
/
High-Energy Shock Waves
/
Stroke
/
Lower Extremity
/
Ankle
/
Muscle Spasticity
/
Muscles
Type of study:
Practice guideline
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
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