Due to the pain generated by the movement of the tendons involved, people with tendinopathies have less mobility. Shockwave therapy, a non-invasive, easier, faster, and safer therapeutic method, has recently been used.
To document the level of pain, upper and lower limb functionality, and quality of life prior to shock wave treatment, immediately after treatment, and at the 4-week follow-up.
In elbow tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff tendinopathy, pain reduction and improved functionality and quality of life after shockwave treatment increased by at least two points on the five-point Likert scale both post-treatment and at a 4-week follow-up compared to pre-treatment.
Shockwave therapy reduces the discomfort associated with tendinopathies while also improving functionality and quality of life. Because of its effectiveness and safety, it may be the first choice.
Shockwave therapy, musculoskeletal injuries, rehabilitation, tendinopathy, and tendon injuries are some of the terms used in this study.
Shockwave Therapy Parameters: Shockwave therapy was administered to the patients using a STORZ MEDICAL Master Pulse MP200 device and the parameters listed below.
Elbow Tendinopathy: To achieve analgesia, the frequency was set to 21 Hz, the pressure was set to 1.8 bar, and 2000 shocks were delivered in the first session. To achieve therapy, the frequency was set to 15 Hz, the pressure at 1.6 bar, and 1500 shocks for the remaining sessions.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is an effective modality in relieving pain intensity and improving functionality and quality of life in various tendinopathies such as plantar fasciitis, elbow tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and rotator cuff tendinopathy, according to the findings of this study. There are no severe side effects and it can be done as an outpatient procedure with no patient restrictions. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, as used in this study, appears to be a safe and effective treatment for all of the tendinopathies studied.
The effectiveness of shockwave therapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis has been studied extensively. The results demonstrated instant pain relief and improved functional capacity, and these findings remained consistent over the course of the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up periods. After a 6- to 11-month follow-up, Othman and Ragab used shock waves with an energy intensity of 17 to 21 kV, 2 Hz, and 1,500-3,000 pulses and found that pain was significantly reduced and 50% of the patients had no limitations in their activities. Other researchers used high-energy shock waves (1,500 shocks with a total energy of 324.25J) and found that pain and functionality improved between weeks three and twelve after the intervention, and to a lesser extent for up to a year. Another study found that pain was significantly reduced immediately after therapy and at three, six, and twelve months.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) has also been shown to be useful in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy in randomized controlled trials. Rasmussen found that the ESWT group improved in function and activity after completing the therapy, with better results seen at the 8- and 12-week follow-ups, as measured by the AOFAS score, which assesses subjective pain and function provided by patients as well as objective scores based on the patient’s physical examination. Lakshmanan and O’Doherty treated Achilles tendonitis with three radial shockwave sessions separated by one week (2,000 impulses of radial shock waves, 2.5 bar pressure and a frequency of 6-10 Hz).
Shockwave therapy can considerably improve pain, functioning, and quality of life in patients who have failed to respond to traditional treatment for any of the aforementioned tendinopathies.
Study designs, variances in study populations, differences in treatment parameters such as shockwave intensity, focal energy, and device design may all play a role in the success of ESWT when employed in different tendinopathies.
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