Effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy in the local management of hyperto-nia (spasticity and dystonia) in patients with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy on the reduction of local hypertonia in patients with cerebral palsy. Design: Explorative pre-post intervention study. Subjects/Patients: Forty-five patients with cerebral palsy. Methods: All patients received 3 sessions of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy with a time interval of 1 week for each session. The outcomes were V1 and V3 of the Tardieu scale, the Timed Up and Go test, and the 10-metre walk test. The measurements were collected at baseline, immediately after the last session of shockwaves, at 12 and 24 weeks after baseline. Results: The statistical analysis used was a mixed linear model of repeated measures. The degrees on the Tardieu scale increased significantly in all the treated muscles. The results of the Timed Up and Go test and the 10 m walk test confirmed a significant functional effect after the shockwave therapy (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Functional improvement in patients treated with extracorporeal shockwave therapy has been observed to last up to 24 weeks.

Keywords

• Cerebral Palsy
• extracorporeal shockwave therapy
• hypertonia
• spasticity