ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy, safety and feasibility of type A botulinum toxin (BTX-A) combined with extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) in treating upper limb spasticity after cerebral stroke. MethodsA total of 60 patients with upper limb spasticity after cerebral stroke were enrolled, and they were randomly assigned to control group and observation group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group received traditional routine rehabilitation treatment, including physical therapy (neuromuscular electrical stimulation and electronic biofeedback), motor therapy (technology of Bobath, Brunnstrom, PNF and Rood), and acupuncture and massage, etc., based on which the observation group employed BTX-A injection combined with ESW for treatment. The upper limb muscle tone, upper limb motor function, and activities of daily living before treatment, and 2, 4, 6 weeks after treatment were evaluated in the two groups. ResultsAfter 2, 4, 6 weeks of treatment, the scores of upper limb modified Ashworth scale (MAS) all decreased significantly, and the observation group yielded lower MAS scores after various time points of treatment as compared with the control group (all P＜0.05). After 2, 4, 6 weeks of treatment, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale scores of upper limb, modified Barthel index (MBI) scores all increased significantly, and the observation group yielded higher scores mentioned above after various time points of treatment as compared with the control group (all P＜0.05). ConclusionCompared to the traditional rehabilitation treatment, BTX-A combined with ESW can relieve upper limb spasticity in patients with cerebral stroke more quickly and enduringly, improve the motor function and activities of daily living in patients, improve motor range of upper limb flexion joint, and alleviate limb pain of patients, which is safe and reliable, and thus it is worthy of promotion and application.

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