Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for post-stroke spasticity: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

 

But there is no need to treat spasticity, Dr. William M. Landau says so in his uninformed 'expert' opinion.  Survivors would immediately disabuse him of that notion. When comeuppence hits him with his stroke he'll regret his ideas on the matter. 

How much does a shock wave therapy machine cost?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to because shockwave devices are not sold to the general public because it is unsafe and against the law. Plus, they cost about $50,000.

But lots more research needed.

His statement from here:

Spasticity After Stroke: Why Bother? Aug. 2004 

The latest here:

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for post-stroke spasticity: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

• 

  Jiayi Chang 1

• Y

  Yuwei Sun 1

• J

  Jiayi Zeng 2

• H

  Huini Gao 1

• Y

  Yanlan Yu 2*

• 1. School of Nursing, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China

• 2. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China

Abstract

Introduction: 

This umbrella review aims to synthesize and critically evaluate existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses to determine the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for post-stroke spasticity, along with the quality and reliability of the evidence.

Methods: 

A comprehensive search of eight databases (up to May 2025) was conducted to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating extracorporeal shock wave therapy for post-stroke spasticity. Two scholars independently screened the literature and extracted data. The methodological quality of the included systematic reviews and meta-analyses was appraised using AMSTAR 2, and the certainty of evidence for each outcome was rated using the GRADE approach. Overlap of primary studies across reviews was assessed and visualized using the GROOVE tool.

Results: 

A total of 17 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. Among these, 3 were rated as high quality, 2 as moderate quality, 7 as low quality, and 5 as very low quality. Evidence mapping identified 136 nodes, indicating moderate overlap. All included systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggested that extracorporeal shock wave therapy improves

(There is NOTHING TO CURE SPASTICITY! Survivors want cures, not treatments that don't GET THERE!)post-stroke spasticity. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy helps reduce spasticity, improve sensorimotor function, increase active and passive range of motion, and alleviate pain.

Discussion: 

This umbrella review suggests that extracorporeal shock wave therapy can improve

(There is NOTHING TO CURE SPASTICITY! Survivors want cures, not treatments that don't GET THERE!)

post-stroke spasticity symptoms. However, due to the generally low methodological quality of the included systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the existing evidence remains limited and inconclusive. Language restrictions and the predominance of studies from a single country may also limit their generalizability. Further high-quality research is needed to strengthen the evidence base.

Systematic review registration: 

identifier: CRD420251124065.