Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42071234›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2026

Efficacy of radial shock wave therapy for ankle spasticity in patients with stroke within 3 months of onset: a prospective quasi-experimental study.

Yuichi Hiramatsu, Hajime Yagura, Hiroaki Fujimoto, Megumi Hatakenaka, Teiji Kawano, Shota Segawa, Makiko Rai, Ryutaro Hayashi, Akihiko Nakae, Haruka Asano and 2 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

12 authors.

Yuichi HiramatsuNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan. hiramatsu@omichikai.or.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-4842-198X
Hajime YaguraNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Hiroaki FujimotoNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Megumi HatakenakaNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Teiji KawanoNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8630-9089
Shota SegawaNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Makiko RaiNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Ryutaro HayashiNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Akihiko NakaeNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Haruka AsanoDepartment of Rehabilitation, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
Takuya OgawaNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.
Ichiro MiyaiNeurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, 2-1-88 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-0025, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7218-7551

Funding

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development JP23bk0104161
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExtracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is widely used to reduce poststroke spasticity (PSS). However, limited evidence exists regarding its efficacy in patients with stroke within 3 months of onset. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between ESWT administered 1 to 3 months after stroke and changes in spasticity and joint mobility in patients with PSS.

methodsProspective quasi-experimental study. Fifty-two patients with PSS affecting the ankle joint were enrolled from March 2023 to March 2025, and allocated into three groups based on the time elapsed from stroke onset: 1, 2, or 3 months. All patients underwent radial ESWT to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles once weekly for 3 consecutive weeks. Spasticity and joint mobility were evaluated using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and passive range of motion (PROM) measurements before and after each session, and at 1 and 5 weeks post-treatment.

resultsExcept for the MAS score obtained after the first session, significant immediate reductions in the MAS scores and PROM measurements were observed after all shock wave therapy sessions. Compared to baseline, cumulative changes were greatest after the third session, with a mean reduction of 0.6 points in the MAS score and a 6.4° increase in the PROM. These changes were maintained for 5 weeks. No serious adverse events related to shock wave therapy were reported.

conclusionsESWT during the early subacute stage was associated with improvements in spasticity and joint mobility in patients with PSS. Repeated sessions showed greater cumulative changes compared with a single session. Trial registration UMIN-CTR000050477.

Indexed as

Ankle JointExtracorporeal Shockwave TherapyMuscle SpasticityStrokeStroke RehabilitationAdultAgedAnkleFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRange of Motion, ArticularTreatment OutcomeModified ashworth scalePassive range of motionPoststroke spasticityRadial shock waveSubacute stroke

Identifiers

PMID42071234
PMCPMC13289203

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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.