title: Effects of extracorporeal shock wave on upper and lower limb spasticity in post-stroke patients: A narrative review.
abstract: Effective treatment strategies for post-stroke muscle spasticity are still a significant interdisciplinary issue and challenge for neurologists, neurosurgeons, physiatrists nurses and physiotherapists. Extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) treatment is a well-supported physical modality used in a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders. The list of justified indications for ESW treatment and scientific areas of investigations is continuously evolving and adapting to different pathologies, including spasticity after stroke.
  
  
  
  To analyze the relevant available research and clinical studies demonstrated that the treatment potentials and effectiveness of ESW procedure including mechanisms of the anti-spastic action within hypertonic muscles after stroke.
  
  
  
  A computer research was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, PEDro, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases. Assessment of eligibility of papers was determined by two independent reviewers. The inclusion criteria comprised: publication in peer-reviewed journals, studies published in the last 10 years, involving clinical trials, full-version available and written in English only.
  
  
  
  A total of 91 articles were collected, 83 of which were non relevant. Ultimately, 8 clinical studies within a total of 195 patients met inclusion criteria for this review. Only one randomized controlled trial was found and then scored using the Cochrane-based assessment. The other studies involving were analyzed separately according to their methodological quality in a descriptive manner.
  
  
  
  ESW was found to be safe and effective. The mechanism of ESW action is still under investigation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nervous System Diseases , Wroclaw Medical University , Bartla 5 Street, 51-618 Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dymarek
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physiotherapy , Wroclaw Medical University , Grunwaldzka 2 Street, 50-355 Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Kuba
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ptaszkowski
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Physiotherapy , Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole , Katowicka 68 Street, 45-061 Opole , Poland.
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Słupska
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Physiotherapy , Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole , Katowicka 68 Street, 45-061 Opole , Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Halski
authors.affiliation: d Department of Physiotherapy Basics , Academy School of Physical Education in Katowice , Mikolowska 65 Street, 40-065 Katowice , Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taradaj
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nervous System Diseases , Wroclaw Medical University , Bartla 5 Street, 51-618 Wroclaw , Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosińczuk
mesh_terms: D000074059:Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Extracorporeal shock wave; Narrative literature review; Neurorehabilitation; Physiotherapy; Spasticity; Stroke