July 2022 CME Activity: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Spasticity After Upper Motor Neuron Injury A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis-Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Spasticity After Upper Motor Neuron Injury A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Spasticity After Upper Motor Neuron Injury A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Pdf Summary

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) may be an effective and safe treatment for spasticity after upper motor neuron injury, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis. The study reviewed 42 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2010 and 2021, involving a total of 1,973 patients. ESWT was found to significantly decrease the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score and increase passive range of motion of a joint compared to control interventions. The analysis also revealed that rESWT was more effective than fESWT, higher pressure or frequency of ESWT had a better antispasmodic effect, and the effect of ESWT was sustained for a month after treatment. Adverse effects such as skin injury, bone distortion, muscle numbness, pain, petechiae, and weakness were reported in a small number of studies. However, the review identified poor methodological qualities in the included studies and high heterogeneity, indicating a need for further investigation. The findings suggest that ESWT could be a promising therapeutic option for managing spasticity after upper motor neuron injury, but more research is required to establish optimal parameters and treatment protocols for better outcomes.

Keywords

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy

ESWT

spasticity

upper motor neuron injury

systematic review

meta-analysis

Modified Ashworth Scale

passive range of motion

rESWT

fESWT