Sound waves target debilitating stiffness in spinal injury patients

This small, completed pilot study tested whether a non-invasive treatment called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) could safely reduce painful muscle stiffness (spasticity) in people with long-term spinal cord injuries. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to receive either the real shockwave treatment or a sham (fake) treatment on their calf muscles. The main goal was to gather initial data on safety and effectiveness to plan a larger future trial, measuring changes in stiffness, spasm frequency, and quality of life.