Can light be the key to unlocking stiff muscles after stroke?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults who have sustained a unilateral ischemic or hemorrhagic cortical motor stroke, with the diagnosis documented in the acute phase by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); * Patients currently undergoing multidisciplinary rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Center where the study will be conducted; * Patients presenting with a motor pattern of spastic hemiparesis secondary to stroke; * Patients demonstrating the ability to perform orthostatism (standing posture) or therapeutic or functional gait activity. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of uncontrolled systemic diseases, including but not limited to cancer, active infections, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus; * History of photosensitivity or known hypersensitivity to light exposure; * Triceps surae spasticity graded as 4 on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) at the initial pre-screening assessment;Acute clinical instability or any acute medical condition requiring immediate intervention; * Fixed anatomical deformities of the ankle joint that preclude a minimum passive or active range of motion of at least 60 degrees; * Malnutrition or significant nutritional deficiencies;Acute clinical conditions with the potential to exacerbate spasticity, such as acute fractures, cutaneous ulcers, or acute infections;Presence of any other movement or tone disorder (e.g., dystonia, chorea, or parkinsonism) that could confound spasticity assessments; * Exposed tumors or undiagnosed lesions in the area to be irradiated; * Change in the pharmacological class of antispastic medications during the therapeutic period of the study. Dose adjustments within the same medication class will be permitted and documented; * Administration of botulinum toxin type A injections into the triceps surae muscle during the study period or within six months prior to study enrollment; * Discontinuation of the concomitant physical therapy rehabilitation program, even if the participant continues to receive photobiomodulation per the study protocol; * Occurrence of any adverse event attributable to photobiomodulation; * Death; * Withdrawal of informed consent.