title: Spasticity and electrophysiologic changes after extracorporeal shock wave therapy on gastrocnemius.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-172, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Kyun
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Kang Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Young-Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seon Lyul
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hwang