Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Wrist and Hand Functions in Spastic Chronic Stroke Patients

Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Wrist and Hand Functions in Spastic Chronic Stroke Patients :Randomized Controlled Study

40 chronic stroke patients with upper limb spasticity will randomly divided into two groups. First group will receive 3 sessions of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) with one week apart without cessation of current physical therapy, while the second group will continue to receive conventional rehabilitative program.

Assessment will be done at baseline, 2 weeks after rESWT and 3 months after rESWT using Modified Ashworth Scale, Fugl Meyer Assessment for hand function and wrist control, motricity index for pinch grip and Hmax/ Mmax amplitude ratio of flexor carpi radialis muscle.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with chronic stroke with disease duration more than one year will be included in the study with stable modified Ashworth scale for upper limb spasticity ranged from 1+ to 4.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients more than 65 years,Patients with double stroke and patients with fixed contractures of wrist & hand ,Patients received anti-spastic measures (botulinum toxins, nerve block) within 6 months,Also patients with contraindication to extra-corporeal shock wave therapy i.e. malignancy at treatment area, coagulopathies, active infection (viral or TB), o bleeding wounds, and patients with pacemakers will be excluded