Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Denervation Atrophy and Function Caused by Sciatic Nerve Injury

[Purpose] The present study examined the effects of treatment using extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) on the muscle weight and function of the hind limb in sciatic nerveinjury. [Subjects] Forty rats with sciatic nerve crushing injury were randomly dividedinto two groups: an ESWT group (n=20), and a control group (n=20). [Methods] The ESWTgroup received extracorporeal shock wave treatment, and the control group did not receiveany treatment after injury. Experimental animals were measured for muscle weight on anelectronic scale and were tested for function on a sciatic functional index (SFI).[Results] All groups showed significant increases in the weights of the left soleus andgastrocnemius muscles, and decreases in the weights of the right soleus and gastrocnemiusmuscles (p<0.05). Comparison of SFI scores and muscle weights between the groups showedsignificant differences in SFI scores, and the right soleus and gastrocnemius muscles(p<0.05) [Conclusion] Exercise programs that use ESWT can be said to be effective atimproving the function of the sciatic nerve and preventing the denervation atrophy.Key words: ESWT, Sciatic nerve, Peripheral nerve