Comparing Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) with Non ESWT Focused Care on Functional Outcomes in Calcific Tendinopathy of the Shoulder

Abstract

Purpose: Apatite deposits within tendons are common conditions that may cause pain, loss of motion, and difficulty with function among active individuals. The modality known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) has been utilized successfully in lithotripsy and has been investigated for its possible role in aiding calcification. This literature review aims to look at the state of evidence among previous randomized controlled trials examining the effects of ESWT on calcification within tendons in the upper extremities. Methodology: Extraction Systematic literature searches for randomized controlled trials between 2012-2022 were performed in the databases of PubMed, Academic Search Index, and Directory of Open access Journals, CINAHL, between November 3rd to November 11th, 2022. A total of four randomized controlled trials (full text available, PEDro score > 7, and conducted in the past 10 years) with a total of 238 subjects met methodological quality guidelines using the PEDro scale. Results: A total of 1,042 articles were screened, and 4 studies with a total population of n = 238 were included in the review. With trials using a variety of adjunct therapies and with differences in frequency, dosage, and treatment volume a meta-analysis was not conducted. There were statistically significant improvements reported in terms of pain and function in ESWT on calcific tendinopathy in 1 study (n= 42). On the other hand, non-ESWT clinically significant differences were found in the use of ESWT in 2 of the studies (n=144), and no effects in 0 of the studies (n= 0). A small majority of studies suggest that in the management of tendinopathies of the upper and lower limbs, ESWT has a clinically significant effect on pain and functional outcomes. Conclusion: A review of current randomized controlled trials presented limited evidence for the use of ESWT for upper and lower limb tendinopathies in humans. While the use of ESWT may improve pain and functional outcomes in humans, further studies on dosing, prescription, and risk of bias assessment are suggested. Dr. Baloy has no relevant financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose. Mr. Becquer has no relevant financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose. Ms. Obnial has no relevant financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.