Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the management of spasticity in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial with different time intervals between sessions - Summary - MDSpire
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Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the management of spasticity in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial with different time intervals between sessions
To evaluate the effects of varying intervals between radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) sessions on spasticity management in patients with cerebral palsy, highlighting the significance of optimizing treatment protocols.
Key Findings:
Seventy-one patients completed the intervention. All groups showed significant improvement in passive range of motion and catch angle of the triceps surae muscle (p < 0.001), but no significant differences were found between groups or in group–time interactions, which suggests that treatment effectiveness may not depend on the interval between sessions. Younger patients showed greater treatment effectiveness (p < 0.001). All groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in functional tests without differences between groups.
Interpretation:
The study suggests that rESWT can be administered with flexible intervals without compromising therapeutic effects, which may enhance patient adherence to treatment.
Limitations:
No significant differences between treatment groups were observed, and the study did not explore long-term effects beyond 24 weeks, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Conclusion:
rESWT application may allow flexibility in treatment scheduling according to clinical needs and patient availability, potentially improving adherence and outcomes.
