The application of shock-waves therapy in the treatment of resistant chronic painful shoulder. A clinical experience.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwaves therapy (ESWT) in patients with chronic painful shoulder.


METHODS



METHODS
a prospective design was used with a short term follow-up.


METHODS
data were collected at the Service of Physioterapy in Villa Stuart Clinic-Rome.


METHODS
72 patients of both sexes with an average age of 38 years (range 18 to 69) affected by chronic painful shoulder, whose symptoms lasted more than 6 months.


METHODS
all patients received on average, 2,000 impulses of ESWT at level 5 energy (0.21 mJ/mm2) according to Dornier Epos equipment one session per week for 8 weeks.


METHODS
all cases underwent an instrumental examination with X-ray conventional imaging and clinical assessment of pain (visual analogue scale) and functional limitation of the shoulder, two weeks before the treatment and at one month follow-up.


RESULTS
53% of patient scored excellent results, 14% good, 13% fair and 20% poor. In the group of calcifying tendinitis we had a reduction in 37% and no changes in 63%.


CONCLUSIONS
Even with a limited number of cases our early results show the efficacy and safety of ESWT in the treatment of chronic painful shoulder resistant to other conservative approaches.
Pigozzi
F
F
University Institute of Motor Sciences, Rome, Italy.
Giombini
A
A
Parisi
A
A
Casciello
G
G
Di Salvo
V
V
Santori
N
N
Mariani
P P
PP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome