Short-term effectiveness of hyperthermia for supraspinatus tendinopathy in athletes: a short-term randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Hyperthermia has been introduced as a physical therapy modality for soft tissue injuries.


OBJECTIVE
The authors tested the null hypothesis that there are no short-term differences after the use of hyperthermia, ultrasound, and exercises for tendinopathy of the supraspinatus tendon.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.


METHODS
The authors studied 37 athletes (29 men, 8 women; mean age, 26.7 +/- 5.8 years; range, 19-43 years) with supraspinatus tendinopathy who had had symptoms between 3 and 6 months. Subjects were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Group A (n = 14) received hyperthermia at 434 MHz. Group B (n = 12) received continuous ultrasound at 1 MHz at an intensity of 2.0 w/cm(2) 3 times a week. Group C (n = 11) undertook exercises, consisting of pendular swinging and stretching exercises 5 minutes twice a day every day. All interventions were undertaken for 4 weeks. Subjects were evaluated at baseline, immediately on completion of treatment, and at 6 weeks after the end of the intervention using mean pain score for pain at night, during movement, and at rest on a visual analog scale; pain on resisted movement and painful arc on active abduction between 40 degrees and 120 degrees on a 4-point scale; and Constant score.


RESULTS
Patients who received hyperthermia experienced significantly better pain relief than did patients receiving ultrasound or exercises: group A, 5.96 to 1.2 (P = .03); group B, 6.3 to 5.15 (P = .10); group C, 6.1 to 4.9 (P = .09).


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperthermia at 434 MHz appears safe and effective in the short term for the management of supraspinatus tendinopathy.
Giombini
Arrigo
A
Orth Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Keele University School of Medicine, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke on Trent ST4 7QB, Staffs, England.
Di Cesare
Annalisa
A
Safran
Marc R
MR
Ciatti
Riccardo
R
Maffulli
Nicola
N
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy