Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for the Treatment of Poststroke Plantar-Flexor Muscles Spasticity: A Prospective Open-Label Study

Abstract

ESWT is safe and efficacious for the treatment of poststroke plantar-flexor muscles spasticity, reducing muscle tone and improving passive ankle dorsiflexion motion. The effect was long lasting in subjects with echo intensity of calf muscles graded I, II, or III but was brief for echo intensity graded IV on the Heckmatt scale. The ESWT effect did not appear to be related to spinal excitability.