Introduction: The aims of the experiments were to: (1) determine whether low-energy shock wave treatment accelerates the recovery of muscle sensitivity and functionality after a nerve lesion; and (2) assess the effect of shock waves on the regeneration of injured nerve fibers.
Methods: After compression of a muscle nerve in rats the effects of shock wave treatment on the sequelae of the lesion were tested. In non-anesthetized animals, pressure pain thresholds and exploratory activity were determined. The influence of the treatment on the distance of nerve regeneration was studied in immunohistochemical experiments.
Results: Both behavioral and immunohistochemical data show that shock wave treatment accelerates the recovery of muscle sensitivity and functionality and promotes regeneration of injured nerve fibers.
Conclusion: Treatment with focused shock waves induces an improvement of nerve regeneration in a rodent model of nerve compression.
Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.