ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes of lower limb muscle strength in stroke patients with lower extremityspasticity by real-time shear wave elastography（SWE）before and after treatment

and to explore its prognostic value.MethodsAtotal of 40 patients with lower extremity spaticity after stroke admitted to our hospital（study group）and 40 healthy volunteers（control group）were selected. Left gastrocnemius muscle SWE scan was performed in the prone and supine position in thecontrol group

and bilateral gastrocnemius muscle SWE scan was performed in the prone and supine position in the study groupbefore treatment and 4 weeks after treatment

respectively

the differences in the above parameters between the two groups werecompared.Patients in the study group were followed up for one year after treatment

and they were devided into good prognosisgroup and poor prognosis group according to whether there was disability/death outcome. The relationship between Young’smodulus and prognosis of patients was analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of poor prognosis instroke patients.ResultsBefore treatment

the Young’s modulus of the affected side of the study group in the prone position andsupine position were higher than those of the healthy side and the control group

and the difference were statistically significant（all P<0.05）.After treatment

the Young’s modulus of the affected side of the study group was lower than that before treatment

and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）.After one year of follow-up

12 patients in the study group had poorprognosis

with a disability/fatality rate of 30%（12/40）.Univariate analysis showed that Young’s modulus of gastrocnemiusmuscle in prone and supine positions increased after treatment compared with before treatment

which were related to the prognosis of stroke patients（all P<0.05）.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that increased Young’s modulus ofgastrocnemius muscle in prone and supine position after treatment were risk factors for poor prognosis of stroke patients（all P<0.05）.ConclusionSWE can not only assess the changes in muscle strength of the lower limbs of stroke patients objectively andquantitatively

but also accurately judge the prognosis of patients

which has better clinical application value.