Efficacy of focused shockwave therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy for symptoms and function in patients with moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome. DESIGN: A single-blind randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four outpatients with moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups: a focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy group and a control group. The focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy group received conservative treatment in addition to focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy with an energy flux density ranging from 0.01 to 0.15 mJ/mm2, a frequency of 4-5 Hz, and 1500 pulses per session once a week for a total of 3 sessions. The control group received only conservative treatment, which comprised gliding exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome, a night wrist splint, and lifestyle modification. The Thai version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (T-BCTQ), a nerve conduction study, and ultrasonography of the median nerve cross-sectional area were performed before treatment and at 3 and 6 weeks after baseline. RESULTS: The T-BCTQ symptom and function scores had significantly decreased in both groups, favouring focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy at all time-points. In addition, distal sensory and motor latency were significantly different between the groups at 3 weeks from baseline. CONCLUSION: Focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy plus conservative treatment effectively provided short-term improvement in symptoms, hand function, and nerve conduction in patients with moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared with conservative treatment alone.

Innovaciones tecnológicas en la litotricia de ondas de choque / Technological innovations in shock wave lithotripsy

Introducción Desde 1980, la litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque (SWL) ha sido empleada en el tratamiento de las litiasis urinarias, ofreciendo alternativas no invasivas a las técnicas quirúrgicas. Aunque limitada por tamaño y ubicación de las piedras, su efectividad se ve afectada por varios factores. A pesar de la evolución de técnicas quirúrgicas, la SWL podría mantener su relevancia con nuevos avances. Nuestro objetivo es revisar la bibliografía existente para recopilar los mayores avances hasta la fecha en el tratamiento extracorpóreo de la litiasis. Material y métodos Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica no sistemática, entre los años 2017 a 2023 para obtener 26 artículos sobre 3 tipos de innovación tecnológica en litotricia extracorpórea: Burst Wave Lithotripsy (BWL), Histotripsy y Microbubble Lithotripsy (ML). Resultados La BWL emplea ondas sinusoidales ultrasónicas de menor y mayor frecuencia que la SWL tradicional. Su mecanismo de acción genera una fragmentación de mayor calidad (finos fragmentos) en lugar de generar fuerzas tensionales como en la SWL tradicional que generan líneas de fractura que dan lugar a fragmentos de mayor tamaño. Resultados en cerdos y humanos han mostrado fragmentación efectiva con buen perfil de seguridad. Basada en la tecnología de ultrasonido focalizado de alta intensidad (HIFU), la histotricia fragmenta tejido empleando fenómenos de cavitación. Han mostrado buenos resultados in vitro, aunque la formación de microburbujas que se interponen entre la litiasis y las ondas de ultrasonido son un impedimento para el progreso de esta técnica. La ML combina microburbujas y ultrasonido para fragmentar litiasis con seguridad y eficacia. Resultados in vitro y en cerdos son prometedores. Puede optimizar tratamientos y reducir niveles energéticos. Conclusiones La innovación tecnológica no solo se está aplicando a técnicas endourológicas, sino también a la ESWL. ... (AU)

Introduction Since 1980, extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) has been employed in the treatment of urolithiasis, offering noninvasive alternatives to surgical techniques. In addition to being limited by the size and location of the stones, its efficacy is influenced by several factors. Despite the advancement of other surgical techniques, SWL could maintain its position with new improvements. Our objective is to review the existing literature on the latest advances in the extracorporeal treatment of lithiasis. Material and methods A non-systematic literature review was carried out from 2017 to 2023 to obtain 26 articles on three different emerging technologies in extracorporeal lithotripsy: Burst Wave Lithotripsy (BWL), Histotripsy, and Microbubble Lithotripsy (ML). Results The BWL uses sinusoidal bursts of US waves delivered at lower and higher frequencies than conventional SWL. Its mechanism of action generates a higher quality fragmentation (fine fragments) instead of generating tensile stresses for stone fracture resulting in larger fragments, as in traditional SWL. Studies in pigs and humans have shown effective fragmentation with a good safety profile. Based on High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) technology, histotripsy fragments tissue through cavitation. Good in vitro results have been shown, but the formation of microbubbles between the stone and ultrasound waves hinders the progress of this technique. Microbubble Lithotripsy (ML) combines microbubbles and ultrasound for safe and effective stone fragmentation. In vitro and pig results are promising. This technique can help optimize treatments and reduce energy levels. Conclusions Technological innovation is not only being applied to endourological techniques, but also to ESWL. New techniques such as BWL, histotripsy and ML are promising, with good results in the research phase. (AU)

Effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in treatment of upper and lower limb tendinopathies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tendinopathy is caused by repetitive motion, excessive stress on the tendon, overstretch, and motion past the critical angle of rotation or translation. There are various treatment options available for tendinitis, including those affecting both the upper and lower limbs and those of calcific and non-calcific types. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Few reviews have analyzed the efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) in treating upper and lower limb tendinopathies while considering calcific and non-calcific-type tendinitis. This paper provides a review and meta-analysis on Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), which compared results from a group undergoing ESWT treatment to another group under different treatments. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials (CENTRAL), and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) databases for articles published up to January 2022. The reference lists of identified articles were further scanned. Twenty-two studies were included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Meta-analysis showed no difference in pain reduction in ESWT when compared with a comparison group at 4 (p = 0.26) and 12 weeks (p = 0.33). There were no differences in DASH scores at 12 months between the two groups (p = 0.32). CONCLUSION: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is effective when used to treat lower limb and calcific tendinitis. It does not yield any better results than other treatment options in managing upper limb tendinopathies and non-calcific tendinopathies.

Bibliometric analysis of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for tendinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a mature, conservative treatment modality for tendinopathy. Although many relevant studies have been conducted, systematic bibliometric studies are lacking. This study aimed to identify trends and hotspots in the treatment of tendinopathy using ESWT. METHODS: A literature search was conducted on ESWT for tendinopathy using the Web of Science Core Collection with a search period of 2002 to 2022. Of 559 identified studies, 276 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using CiteSpace software. RESULTS: The results showed that from 2002 to 2022, the publication rate of literature on ESWT for tendinopathy was generally increasing. Research hotspots, such as tendinopathy and calcific rotator cuff deposits, began earlier but continued to receive scholarly attention. Research on animal models and molecular mechanisms has progressed slowly in this field. The combined or comparative effectiveness of injectable and supplement-based treatments with ESWT is a popular research topic. CONCLUSION: Pain management in patients with tendinopathy has received considerable attention. Simultaneously, more clinical indicators of energy levels and pulse parameters during ESWT are needed to provide more scientific and accurate treatment for patients.

The effectiveness of shockwave therapy on patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tendinopathy is a growing global concern affecting many people, like athletes, workers, and the elderly. Despite its commonality among the sporting population, there is no practical clinical guideline for patellar tendinopathy (PT). Furthermore, there is conflicting evidence between clinical guidelines on shockwave therapy's application and clinical utility for Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and plantar fasciitis (PF). Thus, our aim of this study is to evaluate the evidence for shockwave therapy; to provide a Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) level of the evidence and effectiveness of shockwave therapy for patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and Plantar fasciitis. Method: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Embase, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) were searched to find relevant studies published before December 14th, 2022. Results: Our study showed that for PT in the short term, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) or ESWT + eccentric exercise (EE) has a negligible effect on pain and function compared to a placebo or placebo + EE. On the contrary, ESWT significantly affects pain compared to conservative treatment (CT). For AT, ESWT has a small inconclusive effect on pain and function in the short term compared to EE. On the other hand, a placebo outperformed ESWT in improving function for AT but not pain outcomes. PF showed that ESWT significantly affects short- and long-term pain and function. When ESWT was compared to other interventions such as low laser therapy (LLLT), corticosteroid injection (CSI), or CT, there was a small inconclusive effect on pain and function in the short term. Conclusion: There is low-moderate evidence that ESWT has a negligible effect on pain and function for PT and AT. However, high-quality evidence suggests ESWT has a large effect on pain and function for PF. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023396835, identifier CRD42023396835.

Clinical Outcomes of Cardiac Shockwave Therapy in Severe Coronary Artery Disease Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Cardiac shockwave therapy (CSWT) is a noninvasive treatment for patients with refractory angina or myocardial ischemia. This study aims to evaluate the potential beneficial effect and safety of CSWT in patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).This was a single-arm prospective cohort study. A total of 30 patients with severe CAD who were not suitable for coronary revascularization and who had undergone CABG were enrolled. All patients received CSWT for nine sessions. Evaluation was performed before and after CSWT, including the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) classification, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score, nitroglycerin dosage, echocardiography, myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), and safety parameters. All patients were followed up at both 1 month and 9 months after CSWT.After treatment, CSWT significantly improved CCS classification (P < 0.05), NYHA classification (P < 0.05), nitroglycerin dosage (P < 0.001), and 6MWT (P < 0.05) at 1 month and 9 months after CSWT. SAQ score (P < 0.05) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; P = 0.037) by echocardiography significantly improved at 1 month after CSWT. Significant decreases in summed stress score (SSS), summed difference score (SDS), ischemic area stress, and ischemic area difference by MPI were observed at 1 month and 9 months after CSWT (P < 0.01). There were no changes in safety parameters before and after CSWT.CSWT may have a beneficial effect on improving myocardial perfusion, clinical symptoms, exertional capacity, and quality of life and is a safe alternative treatment for patients with severe CAD who have undergone CABG.

Shockwave Therapy in Veterinary Rehabilitation.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a noninvasive treatment that involves the transcutaneous delivery of high-energy sound waves into tissue creating therapeutic effects. Shockwaves are nonlinear, high-pressure, high-velocity acoustic waves characterized by low tensile amplitude, short rise time to peak pressure, and a short duration (less than 10 milliseconds). ESWT has been shown to increase the expression of cytokines and growth factors leading to decreased inflammation, neovascularization, and cellular proliferation; activation of osteogenesis by osteoblast differentiation and then by increased proliferation; inhibition of cartilage degeneration and rebuilding of subchondral bone; and increased serotonin in the dorsal horn and descending inhibition of pain signals. Musculoskeletal conditions that can benefit from ESWT include osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, fracture/bone healing, and wound healing.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome: focused shockwave therapy versus an ultrasound guided injection: a randomised control trial.

BACKGROUND: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a common problem with an incidence of 1.8-5.6 per 1000 population. Physiotherapy, anti-inflammatories, corticosteroid injections and surgery have all been described in the management of GTPS, with limited, temporal success. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been proposed as a potential non-invasive management option for this difficult presentation. METHOD: We ran a prospective, 2-arm, single-blinded, randomised control trial comparing focused shockwave therapy (f-ESWT) to an ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection. Primary outcome measure was the visual analogue pain score. Secondary outcome measures included the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Trendelenburg test for function; SF-36 for quality of life (QoL); and a Likert scale question for subjective assessment of symptom improvement. RESULTS: 104 patients (10 males and 94 females), of mean age 61.5 years were recruited. 53 were randomised to receive ESWT and 51 to receive an image-guided injection. 11 patients were lost to follow-up. There were no significant differences in baseline scores between groups.At 3 months, pain, function and QoL scores had improved in both groups but were not statistically significant. The Trendelenburg test was significantly improved in the f-ESWT group with 80% patients being negative compared to 20% at baseline (p < 0.001).At 12 months, across all outcomes, the ESWT group had significantly improved scores compared to the injection group; VAS 37.1 versus 55.0 (p = 0.007, 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.3-30.8), HHS 69.7 versus 57.5 (p = 0.002, 95% CI, -20.0 to -4.6) and SF-36 52.4 versus 47.7 (p = 0.048, 95% CI, -9.31 to -0.04). The improvement in Trendelenburg test was maintained in the ESWT group, but the injection group had reverted to baseline (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown f-ESWT is an effective treatment for patients with GTPS. We would advocate f-ESWT as an effective non-invasive treatment modality for this challenging patient population.Trial Registration No. ISRCTN8338223.

Equine shock wave therapy - where are we now?

Over the past three decades, electrohydraulic extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) as a treatment modality for equine orthopaedic disorders has sparked exponential interest among practitioners, but its clinical applications are quickly evolving and a current review highlighting modernised equine clinical use is lacking. The objective of this review is to summarise the most current ESWT technology, evidence for its use, proposed mechanisms of action and clinical applications in horses while also highlighting the areas requiring further investigation. The three ways to generate a shock wave are through electrohydraulic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric mechanisms, but over the last decade, electrohydraulic systems have predominated due to the ability to focus and control a therapeutic waveform. Shock waves' primary physical effect is believed to be via mechanotransduction leading to cellular activation and downstream signalling. Experimentally, ESWT's effects on osseous, connective tissue and wound healing via various mechanisms of action have been reported both in the human and veterinary literature. Clinical trials have investigated ESWT's orthopaedic application including osteoarthritis, thoracolumbar pain, navicular syndrome, tendinopathy and proximal suspensory desmopathy, with its concomitant use with biologics representing an area of active research. Direct ESWT protocol comparisons in terms of long-term efficacy with variables of energy, depth and exposed tissue types are still lacking with evidence-based recommendations being largely anecdotal. Technical advancements to facilitate the safe and judicious use of ESWT include human and equine hearing protection, light sedation and/or patient restraint. Efforts to ensure the safe and judicious use of ESWT and its analgesic effects are ongoing.

Does additional extracorporeal shock wave therapy improve the effect of isolated percutaneous radiofrequency coblation in patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy? Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: No conclusive evidence recommends a prior treatment for insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT). It is theorized that both percutaneous radiofrequency coblation and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) relieve pain within the insertion. However, no clinical evidence shows that either treatment promotes the regeneration of the tendon or if the combination of these 2 interventions offers better function and less pain than one therapy. METHODS: The study is a randomized, controlled trial with patients allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel groups. Patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy who are not satisfied with the effect of conservative treatment will be screened. A minimum of 38 patients will be enrolled after deciding to participate in the trial on an informed basis. Then the intervention group and the control group perform radial ESWT and sham-ESWT respectively at 6 months after percutaneous radiofrequency coblation. The primary outcome will be the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment Achilles (VISA-A) Score. Secondary outcome measures will be Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) scale, visual analog scale (VAS), Tegner Score, and MRI ultra-short echo time (UTE) T2* value. The assessments will occur in 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, post-operatively. The differences between the 2 groups will be conducted as intention-to-treat basis. DISCUSSION: We aim to investigate if radiofrequency coblation associated with ESWT can provide more encouraging imaging findings as well as functional and clinical outcomes regarding the treatment of the IAT comparing to the single radiofrequency coblation treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1800017898; pre-results. Registered on 20 August 2018.

How to report parameters and procedures for shockwave therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: A narrative review.

Shockwave therapy (SWT) has been successful in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. The limitations of the use of SWT in clinical practice regard a lack of familiarity with the device and the lack of uniformity in information reported in scientific publications. Standardization in the reporting of these parameters could facilitate the reproduction and interpretation of data in future studies. Most studies fail to offer a detailed description of the parameters. Therefore, the aim of the present paper is to prepare a report on how to standardize the presentation of this information and serve a reference guide to report physical parameters and procedures of SWT when used on patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The terms were selected from the Medical Subject Headings database of controlled vocabulary. An extensive process of systematic searching of databases was performed, after which experts met and discussed on the main findings, and a consensus was achieved. SWT parameters were described, including the physiological meaning and clinical relevance of each parameter. Also, the description of patient and equipment positioning was added. The consensus-based guideline on how to report SWT parameters for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions was developed to help clinicians and researchers.

Therapeutic Ultrasound and Shockwave Therapy for Tendinopathy: A Narrative Review.

ABSTRACT: Tendon injury is prevalent and costly in the United States, comprising 45% of the 66 million musculoskeletal injuries and costing $114 billion annually. Surgical and therapeutic methods, such as arthroscopic surgery, dry needling, and physical therapy, produce mixed success in reintroducing a healing response in tendinopathy due in part to inconsistent dosing and monitoring. Ultrasound is one therapeutic modality that has been shown to noninvasively induce bioeffects in tendon that may help promote healing. However, results from this modality have also been mixed. This review compares the current state of the field in therapeutic ultrasound and shockwave therapy, including low-intensity therapeutic ultrasound, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and radial shockwave therapy, and evaluates the efficacy in treating tendinopathies with ultrasound. We found that the mixed successes may be attributed to the wide variety of achievable parameters within each broader treatment type and the lack of standardization in measurements and reporting. Despite mixed outcomes, all three therapies show potential as an alternative therapy with lower-risk adverse effects than more invasive methods like surgery. There is currently insufficient evidence to conclude which ultrasound modality or settings are most effective. More research is needed to understand the healing effects of these different therapeutic ultrasound and shockwave modalities.

Early outcomes of short-course low intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT) for erectile dysfunction: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study in Malaysia.

Low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT) has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment modality for erectile dysfunction (ED) yet the well-designed randomized clinical trials are still lacking to prove its claimed benefits. A randomized, prospective, double-blinded sham-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety profile of short course LiSWT on vasculogenic ED patients. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Erection Hardness Score (EHS) questionnaires were used for evaluation. Patients underwent weekly sessions for 4 weeks and were re-assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months post therapy. Fifty one patients were recruited and randomized into sham and treatment arms. The mean IIEF-5 scores were significantly improved in the treatment arm compared to worsening of scores in the sham arm after 1 month (14.1 vs. 9.3 p < 0.001), 3 months (14.9 vs. 8.6, p < 0.001) and 6 months (14.2 vs. 7.9, p < 0.001) post treatment. A significant improvement of EHS was demonstrated at 1 month (2.4 vs. 1.8, p = 0.001, 3 months 2.7 vs. 1.7, p < 0.001) and 6 months (2.7 vs. 1.6, p < 0.001) in the treatment arm compared to sham arm. The success rate based on IIEF score increment more than five points was 26% in treatment arm and 0% in sham arm. Improvement in EHS score ≥3 in the treatment versus sham arm was 63% and 4%, respectively. There was no adverse effect reported. This 4-week LiSWT protocol reflects better treatment compliance, and it prevents further deterioration of erectile function among this cohort of patients. This study proves that LiSWT is a well-tolerated treatment with modest improvements in erectile function and hardness, among patients with vasculogenic ED.

Combined ultrasound guided peritendinous hyaluronic acid (500-730 Kda) injection with extracorporeal shock waves therapy vs. extracorporeal shock waves therapy-only in the treatment of shoulder pain due to rotator cuff tendinopathy. A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCTe) is the most common cause of pain and shoulder dysfunction. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the therapeutic capacity of exogenous peritendinous hyaluronic acid (HA), and the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwaves therapy (ESWT) in reducing pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the added effects of HA treatment plus ESWT (E-g) or ESWT alone (SC-g), focusing on reduction of self-reported pain and disability of patients with RCTe. METHODS: Monocentric, randomized open-label clinical trial. Patients' selection, enrollment and interventions were conducted at the Chiparo Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient facility (Lecce, Italy). Patients with a diagnosis of RCTe, were randomly allocated to the E-g or to the SC-g. Participants were assessed for self-perceived pain, and for disability, at baseline, after 30 and 60 days. RESULTS: Forty adults (mean age 50.8±6.3; 23 woman, 17 men) were enrolled in the study, twenty for each group. During the study, both groups improved their perceived level of disability of the arm (-25.01±2.79; P<0.001), and for pain (-3.13±0.50; P<0.001). A multiplicative effect was demonstrated in the time × treatment interaction for disability (beta±SE beta: 7.40±1.77; P<0.001), and pain (beta±SE beta: 0.95±0.32; P<0.001). Moreover, more patients in the E-g reached the MCID in the outcomes-score compared to SC-g. Lastly, number needed to treat were calculated, for disability: NNT=2 (95% CI: 1-3), and for pain-score: NNT=1 (95% CI: 1-2). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that, compared to ESWT alone, the combining ESWT and peritendinous HA-injections, revert disability and reduces shoulder pain faster in patients with RCTe.

Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: Which Gives the Best Results? A Retrospective National, Multi-Institutional Comparative Study of Different Shockwave Technologies.

BACKGROUND: Low-intensity shockwave therapy (Li-SWT) is a promising option for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Many devices with different characteristics in terms of generators, shockwaves, set-up parameters and procedure protocols are commercially available. In this report, we present our experience with the main shockwave technologies currently in use in clinical practice for ED treatment. METHODS: A retrospective national, multi-institutional study was performed to compare the effects of different shockwave technologies in ED patients. All of the subjects underwent 8 consecutive weekly physical treatments with SWT under either a focused or non-focused regimen: 3,000 shocks per session at 0.09 mJ/mm2 and 10,000 shocks per session at 15 Hz and 90 mJ, respectively. Efficacy was evaluated by comparing pre- and post-treatment Sexual Health Inventory in Men (SHIM) scores, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and Erection Hardness Score (EHS). Possible relationships between type of shockwave generator, source, morphology and type of ED were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 94 men were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in the baseline clinical characteristics or demographics. The mean (SD) increase in the scores from questionnaires evaluated at 8 weeks was clinically and statistically significant, with overall improvements of +5.49, +5.47 and +1.18 (p<0.0001) in the IIEF-5, SHIM, and EHS scores, respectively. The increases in these scores were evaluated by a multiple regression analysis, in relation to the shockwave generator, type of ED, shockwave source and morphology, but none of the factors examined predicted improvement. No side effects were reported with any device. CONCLUSIONS: SWT is a clinically effective and safe treatment for ED that is independent of the generator type, source, shockwave morphology emitted, type of ED and perhaps treatment protocol.

Effects of High-Energy Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Pain, Functional Disability, Quality of Life, and Ultrasonographic Changes in Patients with Calcified Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy.

Objective: The current trial was designed to evaluate the effects of high-energy shockwave therapy on objective and subjective outcomes among participants with calcified rotator cuff tendinopathy. Methods: This parallel-group, randomized trial consists of 42 patients affected by calcific tendinopathies divided into two groups of 21 participants. Patients having calcified tendinopathy aged between 30 and 65 years with type A or B calcification were selected in the trial after signing the written consent form. Participants in the ESWT+RPT group received eight sessions of shockwaves, while the RPT group was treated by routine physical therapy. About 2000 shockwaves of 0.32 mJ/mm2, 120 Hz per treatment, were given as 12 sessions for the first six weeks (2 sessions/week). Pain intensity and shoulder functional ability, ultrasonographic changes, and quality of life were assessed with the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), Constant-Murley score (CMS), ultrasonography, and Western Ontario rotator cuff index (WORC). Results: There were significant differences regarding NPRS and CMS between the two groups, at baseline and 6th and 12th weeks after intervention (p < 0.05). Within-group differences also showed statistically significant results after treatment (all p < 0.05). Significant results were seen in the WORC and ultrasonographic results pre- and posttreatment; more significant findings were found in the experimental group as compared to others. Conclusion: High-energy shockwave therapy has been proved to be effective and thus strongly recommended for the management of calcified rotator cuff tendinopathy, improving the pain, functionality, and quality of life of these participants and decreasing the size of calcified deposits. Shockwave therapy is proved to be superior to routine physiotherapy.

Focused electromagnetic high-energetic extracorporeal shockwave (ESWT) reduces pain levels in the nodular state of Dupuytren's disease-a randomized controlled trial (DupuyShock).

Dupuytren's disease is a progressive fibroproliferative disorder of the hand. In the nodular stage of Dupuytren's disease, pain might limit daily hand activities and progress to finger contractures. Focused electromagnetic high-energetic extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) may reduce pain in Dupuytren's nodules (Tubiana N). In this prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled single center trial, we enrolled 52 patients (mean age, 58.2 ± 9.2) with painful nodular Dupuytren disease Tubiana N. Randomization was done to either (group A) 3 treatments with focused electromagnetic high-energetic ESWT (2000 shots, 3 Hz, 0.35 mmJ/mm2/hand, Storz Duolith SD1, n = 27) or (group B) placebo ESWT (2000 shots, 3 Hz, 0.01 mJ/mm2/hand, n = 25) in a weekly interval. Primary outcome was the level of pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS 0-10) at 3/6/12/18 months, secondary outcomes were patient-related outcome measures (DASH score, MHQ score, URAM scale), grip strength, patient's satisfaction, and Dupuytren's disease progression over 18 months follow-up. Focused ESWT significantly improved outcomes. Pain was reduced from 3.6 ± 1.8 to 1.9 ± 1.2 at three, to 1.4 ± 0.7 at six, to 1.7 ± 1.6 after 12 months and 1.9 ± 0.8 after 18 months in the intervention group (47% reduction, p < 0.05). In the placebo group, pain on VAS increased from 2.2 ± 1.4 to 3.4 ± 1.7 at three, to 3.4 ± 1.8 at six, to 3.4 ± 1.4 at 12 and 3.1 ± 1.1 at 18 months (35% increase, p < 0.05). Quality-of-life score tended to improve in the intervention group (MHQ, 77 ± 19 to 83 ± 12; DASH, 12 ± 18 to 10 ± 9) while it deteriorated in the placebo group as Dupuytren's disease was progressing (MHQ, 79 ± 15 to 73 ± 17; DASH, 6 ± 10 to 14 ± 13). The strength of the affected hand and fingers did not change significantly in either of the groups. Patients' satisfaction was higher in the intervention group for symptom improvement (56% vs. 12%) and reduction of disease progression (59% vs. 24%). Any Dupuytren-related intervention was performed in 26% in the intervention group and in 36% in the placebo group within 18 months of follow-up (n.s.). Focused electromagnetic high-energetic ESWT can significantly reduce pain in painful nodules in Dupuytren's disease in an 18-month perspective. ( ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01184586).