title: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy vs cryoultrasound therapy in the treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis. One year follow up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the purpose of this study is to compare the therapeutic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to those of cryoultrasound (Cryo-US) therapy in chronic lateral epicondylitis during a 12-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  single-blinded, randomized, controlled study of 80 participants treated for chronic LE with 3 ESWT sessions at 48/72-hours intervals (n=40) or 12 Cryo-US therapy sessions (4 sessions per week) (n=40). VAS and satisfactory results, considered as the sum of excellent and good scores in the Roles and Maudsley score, were used as outcome measures at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the results show statistically significant differences in VAS between the two groups at 6 (p<0.001) and 12 months (p<0.001) in favour of the ESWT Group. At 12 months, a difference of more than 2 points in the VAS between the two groups is demonstrated in favour of the ESWT Group. Considering satisfactory results, significant differences between the two groups are observed at 6 (p=0.003) and 12 months (p <0.001) in favour of the ESWT Group where patients achieve a satisfactory rate over 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESWT has better clinical therapeutic results at 6- and 12-month follow-up as compared to Cryo-US therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  1B.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vulpiani
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sveva Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nusca
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vetrano
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ovidi
authors.affiliation: Medical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piermattei
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Unit and "Kirk Kilgour" Sports Injury Centre, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Saraceni
keywords: elbow pain; non-operative care; physical therapies; tendinopathies