title: A single application of low-energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective for the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (SWT) is effective for the management of chronic recalcitrant tendinopathy. The objective of the current study was to assess whether a standardized, single treatment SWT is effective for the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy received low-energy SWT. Thirty-three patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy received other forms of non-operative therapy (control group). Evaluation was by change in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Victoria Institute of Sport Assessment score for patellar tendinopathy (VISA-P) score and by Roles and Maudsley Score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean pre-treatment VAS scores for the control and SWT groups were 7.5 and 7.8, respectively. One month, 3 months, and 12 months after treatment, the mean VAS for the control and SWT groups were 6.7 and 4.3 (p < 0.001), 5.9 and 3.5 (p < 0.001), and 5.1 and 2.7 (p < 0.001), respectively. One month, 3 months, and 12 months after treatment, the mean VISA for the control and SWT groups were 50.7 and 65.5 (p < 0.001), 52.1 and 71 (p < 0.001), and 54.9 and 74.5 (p < 0.001), respectively. At final follow-up, the number of excellent, good, fair, and poor results for the SWT and control groups were 8 and 3 (p < 0.001), 17 and 10 (p < 0.001), 5 and 16 (p < 0.001), and 3 and 4 (p < 0.001), respectively. The percentage of patients with excellent ("1") or good ("2") Roles and Maudsley Scores (i.e. successful results) 12 months after treatment was statistically greater in the SWT group compared to the control group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single application of radial SWT is an effective treatment for chronic patellar tendinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  III.
authors.affiliation: SUN Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, 900 Buffalo Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA. jfuria@ptd.net
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Furia
authors.forename: Jan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rompe
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cacchio
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Buono
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000628:therapy*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography