Ultrasound therapy for musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Ultrasound therapy is used frequently to reduce pain and related disability, mainly by physiotherapists. The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.


METHODS
Published reports of randomized clinical trials investigating the effects of ultrasound therapy on pain, disability or range of motion were identified by a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane databases, supplemented with citation tracking. The quality of methods of all selected publications was assessed systematically by two independent and 'blinded' reviewers, using ten validity criteria. Data from the original publications were used to calculate the differences between groups for success rate, pain, disability and range of motion. Statistical pooling was performed if studies were homogeneous with respect to study populations, interventions, outcome measures and timing of follow-up.


RESULTS
38 Studies were included in the review, evaluating the effects of ultrasound therapy for lateral epicondylitis (n = 6), shoulder pain (n = 7), degenerative rheumatic disorders (n = 10), ankle distorsions (n = 4), temporomandibular pain or myofacial pain (n = 4) and a variety of other disorders (n = 7). In 11 out of 13 placebo-controlled trials with validity scores of at least five out of ten points, no evidence of clinically important or statistically significant results was found. Statistical pooling was only feasible for placebo-controlled trials on lateral epicondylitis, and produced a pooled estimate for the difference in success rate of 15% (95% confidence interval -8%-38%).


CONCLUSIONS
As yet, there seems to be little evidence to support the use of ultrasound therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. The large majority of 13 randomized placebo-controlled trials with adequate methods did not support the existence of clinically important or statistically significant differences in favour of ultrasound therapy. Nevertheless, our findings for lateral epicondylitis may warrant further investigation.
van der Windt
Daniëlle A W M
DAWM
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Institute for Rehabilitation Sciences, P.O. 192, 6430 AD, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands Pain Management and Research Centre, University Hospital Maastricht, P.O. 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
van der Heijden
Geert J M G
GJMG
van den Berg
Suzanne G M
SGM
Ter Riet
Gerben
G
de Winter
Andrea F
AF
Bouter
Lex M
LM
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000628:therapy; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy