Recruiting

ESWT & BoNTA

Sponsor:

University of Alberta

Code:

NCT05226637

Conditions

Spasticity, Muscle

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

ESWT (extra-corporeal shock wave therapy)

Sham : The ESWT device (Storz Medical Duolith SD1),

Study Details

Brief summary:

Background Effective management of spasticity, a debilitating and challenging condition afflicting many recovering from and living with neurological conditions, may reduce long term consequences such as limb contracture, skin breakdown, compromised mobility, caregiver burden and discomfort. In rehabilitation, spasticity represents a significant barrier to successful rehabilitation outcomes. Effective spasticity management can increases the length of individual functional status, reduces equipment/care needs, hospital admissions and extends the time people can stay safely at home, which would represent an economic benefit to the health system. Extra-corporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), an intense short energy wave delivered directly at the region of affected muscles has, in past randomized controlled studies, demonstrated positive outcomes for this population (spastic stroke population, TBI), on its own and as an adjunct to current modalities. In fact, one retrospective observational study demonstrated an increased efficacy of Toxin botulinum at 1 month when combined with ESWT. Where existing treatment options may be limited by coverage, access to delivery, complications and side effects, ESWT represents a potential to be a safe, low cost, efficacious alternative that can be administered by any trained clinician.

Aims The aims of this pilot study will be to explore the hypothesis that adding ESWT to Botulinum Neurotoxin A (BoNTA) in spasticity post-stroke (TBI)will demonstrate greater clinical and patient reported outcomes compared to standard treatment with BoNTA alone, a comparison only once previously studied.

Methods Incorporating randomization and placebo control (n= 20 in each arm), this patient-centric study will examine treatment goals and holistic perception of benefit after the treatment experience. We will use patient reported outcomes at baseline and at defined intervals after intervention. We will test our hypothesis using clinical and patient reported scales, such as the patient reported numeric rating scale (NRS) and goniometric range for spasticity as our primary outcome in conjunction with measures of muscle stiffness, quality of life, feasibility and acceptability of the protocol to help inform future study direction.

Conditions

Spasticity, Muscle

Study ID

NCT05226637

Start date

Apr 29, 2022

Status verified date

Apr, 2026

Completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • People with upper limb Spasticity of Cerebral Origin, including but not limited to:
  • Acquired brain injury (of at least 1 year following the event);
  • Stroke;
  • Cerebral Palsy (CP);
  • Male and females over 18 years of age.
  • Female subjects must either be post-menopausal, sterilized (at least 12 months post menses) or be consistently using a highly effective method of birth control such as a sterilized partner, oral/implanted/injected contraception or abstinence of sexual activity and be willing to provide a pregnancy test as the safe use of ESWT during pregnancy has not been demonstrated.
  • Being naive to shockwave therapy;
  • Spasticity as defined by Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score of 2 in a functional or non-functional upper limb affecting the target joint, which for the purpose of the study will be the elbow;
  • Willingness to participate and provide written consent;
  • Have the cognitive capacity to answers simple questionnaires;
  • Either already receiving treatment with BoNTA and having been 'washed out' for a period of three months, or intends to begin 'standard treatment with BoNTA to an affected arm with target joint involvement.
  • Standard treatment in the context of the study will include, in addition to any other therapies, focal treatment with Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A to treat the target joint.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known neurodegenerative disorder at the spinal level;
  • Known spinal cord lesion ;
  • Fixed contracture of target joint impeding assessment or MAS of 4;
  • Any demonstrated lower motor neuron damage to the affected limb;
  • Surgery received to affected arm that may affect assessment of the target joint;
  • Any changes in either oral or focally injected medications one month prior to screening to close out, that could influence any outcome measures;
  • Any changes in medication one month prior to screening to close out, for the treatment of depression as changes in patient affect may influence outcome measures;
  • Any changes in rehabilitation therapy throughout the study cycles;
  • Confirmed pregnancy. Safe use in this population remains unknown;
  • Nursing mothers. Safe use in this population remains unknown;
  • Female patients who are of childbearing age without adequate contraception and unwilling to take a pregnancy test;
  • Implanted electronic device/s. Kinetic energy in the same territory as an implanted device may adversely affect the device's function;
  • Patients taking Warfarin and have poorly controlled coagulopathy or an INR above 3 at the Point of Care. To avoid hematoma, compartment syndrome or other consequences of prolonged bleeding to treated area. This is also the same program criteria for injection with BoNTA. For this population INR will be determined (using the Coguchek XL device) prior to each treatment;
  • Any malignant diagnoses. Tissue disruption caused by the shockwave treatment may precipitate the liberation or shedding of cancer cells;
  • Any known infection, inflammatory process, open areas or acute undiagnosed swelling (acute being defined as 14 days or sooner) in the area treated to avoid worsening of any pre-existing condition;
  • Participation in any other concurrent study.

Study Design

Enrollment

40 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

sham comparator: Control group

In addition to standard of care, with BoNTA injections, the randomly selected control group will be treated with a sham head to the flexor muscles of the upper extremity. The sham component made by the manufacturers is designed such that the internal pneumatic projectile is physically blocked from providing high energy impact with the contact surface, however the handset looks and sounds identical. In doing so, the sham head still actuates and makes the same sounds but produces no shockwave

ESWT will be apply on every candidate over the anterior region of the upper extremity injected with the BoNTA.

experimental: Experimental group with ESWT

The randomly selected Study group will be comprised of patients who will receive the appropriate treatment with BoNTA in addition to actual ESWT (extra-corporeal shock wave therapy.

ESWT is an existing technology that uses a device that generates high intensity shockwaves. These shock waves are generated outside of the body (extra corporeal) but penetrate through the skin surface to underlying structures and tissue. ESWT has been historically used safely and for many years to treat common musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

For the purpose of the study these variables are standardized. We will treated with the Storz Duolith SD1 and we will use the D15 head 3000 number of shocks, 2.5 bar, 15 Hz over the same area of upper extremity described for the control group.

Interventions

ESWT (extra-corporeal shock wave therapy)

The ESWT device (Storz Medical Duolith SD1),

Sham : The ESWT device (Storz Medical Duolith SD1),

In doing so, the sham head still actuates and makes the same sounds but produces no shockwave. Because the patients receiving this intervention are naïve to ESWT, they will not be biased by the sensation it produces. Communication during treatment will be limited to avoid inadvertent bias.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change from baseline in patient reported outcomes of spasticity on Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for Spasticity at weeks 4, 12 and 24. [ Time Frame: 4, 12 and 24 weeks from the baseline ]
  • Change from baseline in clinical passive range of motion at the elbow joint treated side with goniometer at weeks 4, 12 and 24. [ Time Frame: 4, 12 and 24 weeks from the baseline ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Steacy Wray, RN

780 735 8261StaceyMWray@ahs.ca

Benoit Martin, MD

418 255 7789mbenoit1@ualberta.ca

Locations

Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

Recruiting

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5G 0B7

Contacts

Steacy Wray, RN

780-735-8261StaceyMWray@ahs.ca

Russel Walker, RN

780-735-8261russell.walker@ahs.ca

More Information

Sponsor

University of Alberta

Last update posted

Apr 13, 2026

Last verified

Apr, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Alberta on 2026-04-13.