Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Versus Nirmal Table Functional Activity on Hand Functions in Chronic Stroke Patients; A Comparative Study

Abstract

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive physiotherapy intervention increasingly used in the management of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. It delivers high-energy acoustic waves to a selected area of the body through a treatment applicator. Originally developed for lithotripsy, shock-wave technology has subsequently been adapted for orthopaedic and rehabilitation applications. Its therapeutic effects are associated with mechanical stimulation of tissues, modulation of pain, changes in local circulation, and biological responses that may support tissue repair. The physiological effects of ESWT are thought to involve mechano-transduction, in which mechanical energy produces cellular and tissue responses. These responses may influence local blood flow, cellular activity, protein synthesis and tissue remodelling. ^[1,2]