Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy as an additional treatment modality for spastic equinus deformity in chronic hemiplegic patients. A randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (r ESWT) as an additional treatment modality for spastic equinus deformity in chronic hemiplegic patients.

METHODS: 100 eligible stroke patients with calf muscles spasticity were randomized into 2 groups. Group I: 50 patients exposed to rESWT 1.500 pulses, 0.10 mJ to 0.3mJ/mm2, with a frequency 4 Hz once weekly for one month. Group II: 50 patients exposed to Sham rESWT once weekly for one month. Clinical, electrophysiological & musculoskeletal ultrasound assessments were done for all patients.

RESULTS: After controlling baseline as covariate, the trend for modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Passive ankle dorsiflexion motion (PADFM), 10 meters walk test (10-MWT), and Ratio of maximum H reflex to maximum M response (H/M ratio) after one & two months was significantly different between the two groups, with improvement of all clinical and electrophysiological parameters in group I.

CONCLUSION: ESWT represents a useful non-invasive, additional modality for the reduction of foot spasticity and equinus deformity in stroke patients.