Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Treatment for Nocturnal Leg Cramps

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-03-05

Study Completion Date

2020-02-04

Brief Summary

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Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) are often described as a symptom of sudden and involuntary muscle contraction at night, which often affects sleep quality due to pain and tight discomfort in the thigh, calf and foot. The investigator performed extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). This experiment used a randomized experiment to assess the immediate, short-term and long-term effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on patients with nocturnal leg cramps.

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Detailed Description

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Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) are often described as a symptom of sudden and involuntary muscle contraction at night, which often affects sleep quality due to pain and tight discomfort in the thigh, calf and foot. The pathophysiology of nocturnal leg cramps is unclear, but it is generally considered to be associated with excitability lower motor neurons, sleep posture at night, leg muscle fatigue, nerve disability or damage (eg, Parkinson's disease), metabolic diseases (eg : hyperphosphatemia). Generally, quinine or magnesium oxide is the most commonly used pharmacological treatment. The common non-drug treatments are stretching exercise, massage or hot therapy, but there is not enough evidence to indicate which treatment is specific effective.

In a previous study, they proposed that nocturnal leg cramps may be associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) of the gastrocnemius. Other studies have also proposed that extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) applying to the MTrPs of the upper trapezius muscle could improve cervicogenic headache. We will conduct a randomized parallel study to investigate the efficacy of ESWT on nocturnal leg cramps. Participants will be randomized into two groups: one is only general physical therapy (gPT) and the other one is ESWT + gPT.

The outcome measurement tools including the frequency of nocturnal leg cramps, visual analog scale (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT) and muscle tone in the gastrocnemius, range of motion of knee and ankle, and quality of sleep questionnaire were used to compare two groups with regard to the pain intensity, quality of sleep, and overall satisfaction in subjects with nocturnal leg cramps.

Conditions

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Nocturnal Leg Cramps

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Extracorporeal shock wave therapy and general physical therapy

In this arm, the subjects will receive the intervention of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and general physical therapy 3 times a week for 2 weeks, in total 6 times treatments and will be arrange to take efficacy two assessment on 1 week and 2 weeks after 6 times treatments separately.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a mechanical sound wave that generates energy by extremely high-frequency vibration to compress the medium. Low-energy extracorporeal shock waves can be used for cell regeneration and pain control therapy; medium-high energy can be used to treat patients with poor bone healing; high-energy can be used to lithotrite. In recent years, extracorporeal shock waves have been applied on the musculoskeletal diseases, such as: epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, chronic pelvic pain, chronic heel pain syndrome, lymphedema, burns, pressure sores, calcific tendinitis and myofascial pain syndrome. This treatment is a non-invasive and safe treatment.

General physical therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The general physical therapies such as: thermotherapy, straight leg raise (SLR), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for treatment on calf muscle.

Only general physical therapy

In this arm, the subjects will only receive the intervention of general physical therapy 3 times a week for 2 weeks, in total 6 times treatments and will be arrange to take efficacy two assessment on 1 week and 2 weeks after 6 times treatments separately.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

General physical therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The general physical therapies such as: thermotherapy, straight leg raise (SLR), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for treatment on calf muscle.

Interventions

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Extracorporeal shock wave therapy

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a mechanical sound wave that generates energy by extremely high-frequency vibration to compress the medium. Low-energy extracorporeal shock waves can be used for cell regeneration and pain control therapy; medium-high energy can be used to treat patients with poor bone healing; high-energy can be used to lithotrite. In recent years, extracorporeal shock waves have been applied on the musculoskeletal diseases, such as: epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, chronic pelvic pain, chronic heel pain syndrome, lymphedema, burns, pressure sores, calcific tendinitis and myofascial pain syndrome. This treatment is a non-invasive and safe treatment.

Intervention Type DEVICE

General physical therapy

The general physical therapies such as: thermotherapy, straight leg raise (SLR), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for treatment on calf muscle.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. ≥ 20 y/o patients with NLCs: (1) 4 times/week, last 2 weeks; (2) Occurred in nighttime or resting time of daytime
2. Patients with MTrPs on gastrocnemius (According to the diagnostic criteria proposed by Simons \& Travell)

Exclusion Criteria

1. (1) Taking medication for leg cramps (eg. Quinine, Magnesium oxide); (2) Other drugs that affect research and evaluation (eg. diuretics, statins, calcium channel blockers, anticonvulsants)
2. Congenital lower limb musculoskeletal diseases, Lower limb or spine surgery
3. Uncommunicated or cognitive impaired
4. Patients refused to be recruited

Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No