The Effect of Shock Wave Therapy on Upper Limb Spasticityin the Patients with Stroke.

, Yoo, Seung Don; , Kim, Hee Sang; , Jung, Pil Kyo

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2008;32(4):406-410.

Yoo, Seung Don , Kim, Hee Sang , Jung, Pil Kyo

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Korea. kidlife@paran.com

뇌졸중 환자에서 체외충격파 치료기의 상지 경직에 대한 효과

유승돈, 김희상, 정필교

경희대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on muscle spasticity of elbow and wrist affected by stroke.
Methods
We studied 21 patients affected by stroke with spasticity in upper limbs. The neurological status of the stroke patients were evaluated by K-NIHSS and the evaluation of efficacy on the upper limb spasticity were based on modified Ashworth scale (MAS), modified Tardieu scale (MTS), and active elevation of upper limb. Treatment was performed 1 session/week, total 3 sessions in each patient. Patients were evaluated at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment using MAS of elbow flexor and active elevation of upper limb. Patients were monitored at baseline, after sham stimulation, and at 1, 4 weeks after ESWT using MTS of elbow flexor and wrist pronator.
Results
After ESWT, patients showed significant improvement in muscle tone of elbow flexor and wrist pronator after the 1st and 4th weeks compared with baseline and sham stimulation (p＜0.001). The active elevation of hemiplegic upper limb was significantly increased (p＜0.05).
Conclusion
We suggest the ESWT could be a useful treatment method on upper limb spasticity in the patients of stroke. Further studies with a larger group of patients are warranted. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 406-410)

Key Words: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), Spasticity, Stroke