Sound waves aim to calm spastic muscles in spinal injury patients
NCT ID NCT05432999
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tested whether a non-invasive treatment called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) can safely reduce spasticity—muscle stiffness and spasms—in people with chronic spinal cord injury. Five participants received ESWT or a sham treatment, and researchers measured changes in muscle tone and quality of life. The goal is to gather data for a larger trial that could confirm if this low-side-effect approach works better than current medications.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) – a device that delivers high-pressure sound waves to muscles through the skin
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a non-drug option to reduce muscle stiffness and spasms in people with spinal cord injury, with fewer side effects than medications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 5 participants completed, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment may not prove effective in larger trials.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Kessler Foundation
West Orange, New Jersey, 07052, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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