Combining extracorporeal shock wave treatment with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation can improve the lower limb motor function of stroke survivors with foot drop / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe any effect of combining extracorporeal shock wave stimulation with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the lower limb motor function of stroke survivors with foot drop.Methods:Thirty-six stroke survivors with foot drop were randomly divided into an extracorporeal shock wave group, a PNF group and a combination group, each of 12. The extracorporeal shock wave group and PNF group were given those therapies alone, while the combination group was provided with both. The extracorporeal shock wave therapy protocol was 2000 times on each muscle at an intensity of 2.5 bar and a frequency of 10Hz, twice a week for 4 weeks, while the PNF was provided at least 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Before and after the intervention, all of the participants were evaluated using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the 10-metre walk test (10 MWT) and the Fugl-Meyer lower limb motor function scale (FMA). Active range of the ankle joint and toe out angle were also observed.Results:After the intervention the lower limb muscle tone had decreased significantly in 8 of the PNF group members and in 9 of those in the extracorporeal shock wave group, but it has decreased significantly in all 12 members of the combination group. And the average magnitude of the improvement was also significantly greater in the combination group than in the other two groups. Moreover, significant differences were observed in the active range of the ankle joint after the treatment in the combination group, but not in the other two groups. After the intervention the average 10 MWT times and FMA scores of the PNF and combination groups had improved significantly, but not those of the extracorporeal shock wave group, but significant improvement in toe out angles was observed in all three groups, though the average improvement in the combination group was significantly greater than in the other 2 groups.Conclusion:Combining extracorporeal shock waves with PNF can effectively improve the lower limb motor function of stroke survivors with foot drop.