title: The application of shock-waves therapy in the treatment of resistant chronic painful shoulder. A clinical experience.
abstract: 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.
authors: University Institute of Motor Sciences, Rome, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Pigozzi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Giombini
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Parisi
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Casciello
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Di Salvo
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Santori
authors: P P
authors: PP
authors: Mariani
mesh_terms: 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