Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40423292›Full record

Trial reportToxins2025

Effectiveness of Unfocused vs. Focal Shock Waves Combined with Botulinum Toxin on Spasticity in Brain-Damaged Patients.

Antonio Déniz, Pedro Saavedra, Isabel Marrero, Samuel Barrera, Raúl Domínguez, Raúl Mendoza, Jorge Rodríguez

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Toxins, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Introduction toToxins · 2025
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Antonio DénizNeurorehabilitation, Rehabilitation Service of the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, 35010 Las Palmas, Spain.
Pedro SaavedraDepartment of Mathematics, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-1681-7165
Isabel MarreroPhysiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain.
Samuel BarreraNeurorehabilitation, Rehabilitation Service of the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, 35010 Las Palmas, Spain.
Raúl DomínguezNeurorehabilitation, Rehabilitation Service of the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, 35010 Las Palmas, Spain.
Raúl MendozaNeurorehabilitation, Rehabilitation Service of the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, 35010 Las Palmas, Spain.
Jorge RodríguezNeurorehabilitation, Rehabilitation Service of the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, 35010 Las Palmas, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spasticity is a common complication in patients with neurological disorders, increasing disability and hampering quality of life. Combined treatment with focused shock waves (fESWT) and botulinum toxin (BoNT-A) has been shown to increase the effectiveness and duration of the effect of BoNT-A on spasticity in patients with brain injuries. We studied the effectiveness of the combination of unfocused shock waves (uESWT) and BoNT-A on spasticity. This prospective study with systematic randomization included 24 patients with brain injury, a small sample size due to clinical limitations, and spasticity was measured using the Ashworth scale (AS) for those with lower limb involvement; gait speed was assessed using the 10-m gait test (10MWT). To judge patient satisfaction with treatment, we used the Consumer Reports Effectiveness Scale-4 (CRES-4). Both uESWT and fESWT with BoNT-A resulted in a 3-point improvement in the median spasticity score, which was maintained from week 2 to week 26, and a statistically significant reduction in the 10MWT was observed. Furthermore, the proportion of patients who were very satisfied with the treatment was higher with uESWT (91%) than with fESWT (69.2%). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the added benefit of concurrent and combined treatment with uESWT and BoNT-A injections to improve spasticity in patients with stroke or multiple sclerosis and show higher patient satisfaction with the treatment.

Indexed as

Botulinum Toxins, Type ABrain InjuriesExtracorporeal Shockwave TherapyMuscle SpasticityNeuromuscular AgentsAdultAgedCombined Modality TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeBotulinum Toxins, Type ANeuromuscular Agentsbotulinum toxin type Aextracorporeal shock wave therapyfocal shock wavesmultiple sclerosisspasticitystrokeunfocused shock waves

Identifiers

PMID40423292
PMCPMC12116163

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Registered trials

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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.