Ann Rehabil Med.  2011 Oct;35(5):599-604. 10.5535/arm.2011.35.5.599.

Spasticity and Electrophysiologic Changes after Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Gastrocnemius

• Sohn MK
• Cho KH
• Kim YJ
• Hwang SL

• KMID: 2267220
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2011.35.5.599

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the spasticity and electrophysiologic effects of applying extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to the gastrocnemius by studying F wave and H-reflex. METHOD: Ten healthy adults and 10 hemiplegic stroke patients with ankle plantarflexor spasticity received one session of ESWT on the medial head of the gastrocnemius. The modified Ashworth scale (MAS), tibial nerve conduction, F wave, and H-reflex results were measured before and immediately after the treatment. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used during ESWT to measure the side effects, such as pain.
RESULTS
There were no significant effects of ESWT on the conduction velocity, distal latency and amplitude of tibial nerve conduction, minimal latency of tibial nerve F wave, latency, or H-M ratio of H-reflex in either the healthy or stroke group. However, the MAS of plantarflexor was significantly reduced from 2.67+/-1.15 to 1.22+/-1.03 (p<0.05) after applying ESWT in the stroke group.
CONCLUSION
After applying ESWT on the gastrocnemius in stroke patients, the spasticity of the ankle plantarflexor was significantly improved, with no changes of F wave or H-reflex parameters. Further studies are needed to evaluate the mechanisms of the antispastic effect of ESWT.

Keyword

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy; Spasticity; F wave; H-reflex

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Ankle
H-Reflex
Head
Humans
Muscle Spasticity
Shock
Stroke
Tibial Nerve

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