The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy After Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection for Post-stroke Spasticity

The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy After Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection for Post-stroke Spasticity: Preliminary Study, Randomized Controlled Trials

There are few studies on whether botulinum toxin treatment and extracorporeal shock wave therapy are more effective than botulinum toxin alone treatment for post-stroke spasticity.

If the study results can be drawn that the group receiving extracorporeal shock wave therapy along with botulinum toxin treatment can increase the effect of botulinum toxin treatment and lengthen the treatment period compared to the group with botulinum toxin treatment only, it can be widely used as an auxiliary treatment for botulinum toxin treatment. This study was carried out with the expectation that it would be possible to provide a basis for this.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. at least 6 weeks after stroke diagnosis
2. upper-extremity (elbow, wrist and finger) spasticity Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score > 2
3. ability to stand and walk safely without help or assistance

Exclusion Criteria:

1. improper indication for botulinum toxin A (BTxA) injection, for example, myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and motor neuropathy
2. previous contracture and/or deformity of the upper extremities
3. concurrent peripheral neuropathy and/or myopathy
4. difficulty in participating in the study due to cognitive impairment.