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Effectiveness of Shock Wave Therapy for Upper Limb Spasticity

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Stroke
Interventions
Device: shock wave therapy
Registration Number
NCT04316026
Lead Sponsor
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
Brief Summary

Introduction: Shock wave therapy (SWT) has a potential interest to treat spasticity. However, the pathophysiology of this treatment remains unknown. Some authors assert that it is effective on spasticity itself, while others suggest that it acts more on fibrosis.

Method: this study will assess the effectiveness of radial SWT to treat wrist and finger flexors stiffness in stroke patients, comparing subacute spastic patients (\< 12 months) with chronic patients presenting muscle contractures (\> 12 months). Forty-eight stroke patients (24 in the subacute phase and 24 in the chronic phase) will be included. One real and one sham sessions of SWT will be performed with a 2-week interval. The order of the sessions will be randomized. Motor control, stiffness and spasticity will be assessed with clinical and objective measures, just after and just before each session, by a blind assessor. The targeted muscles will be flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum profundus, and will be the same for the two session.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • History of cerebral lesion
  • Wrist spasticity ≥ 1+/4 on the Modified Ashworth Scale
  • Wrist spasticity ≥ 2/4 on the Tardieu Scale
  • Passive dorsal extension of the wrist ≥ 10°
Exclusion Criteria
  • Botulinum toxin injection in the upper limb in the past three months
  • History of wrist arthrodesis
  • Myopathy
  • Treatment with oral anticoagulants or coagulation disease
  • Tumor or infection of the paretic upper limb

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
control groupshock wave therapysham shock wave therapy
interventional groupshock wave therapygroup receiving shock wave therapy
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Tardieu scaleBefore (baseline) and 5 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

Clinical assessment of spasticity for wrist and fingers flexors; score from 0 to 4 (a higher score representing a greater spasticity)

Modified Ashworth ScaleBefore (baseline) and 5 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

Clinical assessment of spasticity for wrist and fingers flexors, score from 0 to 4 (a higher score representing a greater spasticity)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
objective measure of elastic and viscous stiffness of the wrist, expressed in N.m.radBefore (baseline) and 5 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

electronic oscillatory device for stiffness measurement

Isokinetic dynamometerBefore (baseline) and 15 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

objective measure of muscle stiffness at the wrist

Medical Research Council muscle testingBefore (baseline) and 25 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

strength assessment; score from 0 to 5 (a higher score representing a greater strength)

Box and block testBefore (baseline) and 30 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

measure of manual ability

Visual Analog ScaleBefore (baseline) and 45 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

patient self-assessment of overall effectiveness of SWT; score from 0 to 4 (a higher score representing a greater improvement)

objective measure of muscle stiffnessBefore (baseline) and 10 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

Myoton measurement device

manual goniometerBefore (baseline) and 10 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

Passive measure of joint range of motion

H reflexBefore (baseline) and 5 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

electrophysiological assessment of the H reflex (motoneuronal excitability)

Fugl Meyer Assessment - computerized adaptive testingBefore (baseline) and 25 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

neurological impairment

Wolff Motor Function TestBefore (baseline) and 35 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

manual activities

Abilhand scaleBefore (baseline) and 45 minutes (post-treatment) after each of the two sessions (sham or real SWT)

PROMS on bimanual activities; a higher score represents a better manual ability

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc

🇧🇪

Brussels, Belgium

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