To observe application of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of triceps spasticity after stroke.

Thirty-six stroke patients with triceps spasticity were randomly divided into treatment group and control group according to the random number table method, 18 patients for each group. All patients accepted routine rehabilitation and BTX-A injection locally, the treatment group received extracorporeal shock wave therapy, The control group received pseudo-extracorporeal shock wave therapy, The modified Ashworth scale, joint passive activity, simplified Fugl–Meyer score and modified Barthel index were used before treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment, to assess ipsilateral triceps spasticity, passive ankle dorsal angle, lower limb motor function and activity of daily living of patients in two groups.

There was no significant difference between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). There was significant difference after 2 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). Between groups, the MAS score (2.15±0.56) and PROM (44.37°±8.02) of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). While the FMA score (15.66±7.32) and MBI score (37.58±9.04) of the treatment group had no significant difference with control group (P>0.05), in which FMA score was (14.07±6.55) and MBI score was (35.92±8.50). 4 weeks after treatment, the MAS score, PROM, FMA score and MBI score were (1.41±0.48), (56.92±8.79), (23.48±9.53) and (58.61±12.47) in the treatment group, (2.04±0.51), (45.48±7.86), (19.63±8.24) and (45.39±11.07) in the control group, there was significant difference between the two groups, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

Botulinum toxin type A combined with extracorporeal shock wave can significantly relieve the triceps spasticity, improve the motor function and ability of daily living after stroke.