The Immediate Effect of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Spasticity and Motor Function in Chronic Post-stroke Patients

This study aimed to report the immediate effect on spasticity and motor function of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) as part of a comprehensive treatment program for chronic stroke patients with spasticity and functional problem in upper extremities. Chronic poststroke patients with spasticity on upper extremity were enrolled and got rESWT that applied at muscle belly of the biceps muscle, flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, and flexor carpi radialis muscle. Patients were evaluated for elbow flexor and wrist flexor spasticity using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and for motor function using Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) at baseline and immediately after rESWT therapy session. 6 male and 1 female patients participated, age 59.7+5.5 years old, with mean onset time of stroke were 40.4 + 25.2 months. The MAS score was 5.4  1.5 at baseline and 4.2  1.2 after the treatment (p<0.05). The score of motor function FMA-UE scale was 26.4  9.0 at baseline and 28.6  9.9 after the treatment (p<0.05). Radial ESWT immediately improved spasticity and motor function in some chronic poststroke patients. More studies are necessary to establish if rESWT for spasticity and motor function in chronic poststroke is clinically effective.