Trial reportPloS one2023
The effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy vs transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the management of upper limb spasticity in chronic-post stroke hemiplegia-A randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Superior efficacy of 100-Hz transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in reducing post-stroke spasticity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2025Pooled it
- Shockwave Therapy or Acupoint Stimulation Combined With Physiotherapy for Spasticity and Motor Function in Post-Stroke Recovery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Brain and behavior · 2026Trial
- Pulsed Radiofrequency for Post-Stroke Complications: From Neuromodulation to Functional Recovery.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2026Review
- The Role of Radial Shockwave Therapy in Reducing Spasticity and Improving Upper-Limb Function Following Stroke.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy improves upper limb function in chronic stroke patients: a randomized sham-controlled trial.Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil) · 2026Article
- Current techniques for the treatment of spasticity and their effectiveness.EFORT open reviews · 2025Article
- Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment as Additional Therapy in Patients with Post-Stroke Spasticity of Upper Limb-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Post-Stroke Spastic Paralysis: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research from 2000 to 2024.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTraditionally both rESWT and TENS are used in treating post-stroke upper limb spasticity over years and their effectiveness had been assessed disjointedly. However, these methods were not yet compared for superiority.
objectivesTo compare rESWT vs TENS to assess their effectiveness in different parameters of stroke such as stroke type, gender, and the affected side.
methodsThe experimental group was treated with rESWT application to the middle of the muscle belly of Teres major, Brachialis, Flexor carpi ulnaris, and Flexor digitorum profundus muscles using 1500 shots per muscle, frequency of 5Hz, energy of 0.030 mJ/mm. The TENS was applied to the same muscles in the control group using 100 Hz for 15 minutes. Assessments were taken at the baseline (T0), immediately after first application (T1), and at the end of four-week protocol (T2).
resultsPatients 106 with a mean age of 63.87±7.052 years were equally divided into rESWT (53) and TENS (53) groups including 62 males, 44 females, 74 ischemic, 32 hemorrhagic, affecting 68 right, and 38 left. Statistical analysis has revealed significant differences at T1 and T2 in both groups. But at T2 compared to T0; the rESWT group has reduced spasticity 4.8 times (95% CI 1.956 to 2.195) while TENS reduced by 2.6 times (95% CI 1.351 to 1.668), improved voluntary control by 3.9 times (95% CI 2.314 to 2.667) and it was 3.2 times (95% CI 1.829 to 2.171) in TENS group. Improvement of the hand functions of the rESWT group was 3.8 times in FMA-UL (95% CI 19.549 to 22.602) and 5.5 times in ARAT (95% CI 22.453 to 24.792) while thrice (95% CI 14.587 to 17.488) and 4.1 times (95% CI 16.019 to 18.283) in TENS group respectively.
conclusionThe rESWT modality is superior compared to the TENS modality for treating chronic post-stroke spastic upper limb.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.