title: Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for orthopedic conditions: a systematic review on studies listed in the PEDro database.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an effective and safe non-invasive treatment option for tendon and other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
  
  
  METHODS
  This systematic review used data derived from the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro; www.pedro.org.au, 23 October 2015, date last accessed).
  
  
  RESULTS
  ESWT is effective and safe. An optimum treatment protocol for ESWT appears to be three treatment sessions at 1-week intervals, with 2000 impulses per session and the highest energy flux density the patient can tolerate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distinction between radial ESWT as 'low-energy ESWT' and focused ESWT as 'high-energy ESWT' is not correct and should be abandoned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no scientific evidence in favour of either radial ESWT or focused ESWT with respect to treatment outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future randomized controlled trials should primarily address systematic tests of the aforementioned optimum treatment protocol and direct comparisons between radial and focused ESWT.
authors.affiliation: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Research Unit, Department of Anatomy II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 11, Munich 80336, Germany christoph_schmitz@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.affiliation: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Research Unit, Department of Anatomy II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 11, Munich 80336, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaus B M
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Császár
authors.affiliation: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Research Unit, Department of Anatomy II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Pettenkoferstr. 11, Munich 80336, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milz
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Experimental Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Nussbaumstr. 20, Munich 80336, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schieker
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, University of Salerno School of Medicine, Salerno, Italy Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Sports and Excercise Medicine, Mile End Hospital, Mann Ward, 275 Bancroft Road, London E1 4DG, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
authors.affiliation: OrthoTrauma Evaluation Institute, Oppenheimer Str. 70, Mainz 55130, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan-Dirk
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rompe
authors.affiliation: SUN Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Division of Evangelical Community Hospital, 900 Buffalo Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Furia
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000628:therapy
keywords: ESWT; PEDRo; RSWT; musculoskeletal system