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Shockwave therapy versus local steroid injection in chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy
Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation volume 46, pages 141–147 (2019)
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the efficacy of shockwave therapy versus ultrasound-guided steroid injection in the treatment of chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy.
Patients and methods
This study was carried out on 30 patients with calcific and noncalcific supraspinatus tendinopathy for more than 3 months. A clinical assessment was performed for all patients including pain scoring by the visual analog scale and full shoulder examination at the start of the study and 6 weeks later. Shoulder ultrasound was performed at the start of the study. Fifteen patients received four sessions of radial shockwave therapy (Intelect Radial Shockwave, UK) 3 bar pressure, 2000 pulses, 20Hz. Fifteen patients received a single ultrasound-guided subacromial steroid injection (1ml triamcinolone 40mg and 1ml lidocaine).
Results
Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief (visual analog scale) and clinical examination: tenderness, shoulder range of motion, and muscle power. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups.
Conclusion
Radial shockwave therapy has no additional benefit over ultrasound-guided steroid injection in the short term in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy.
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Zamzam, M., El Yasaki, A., El Garabawy, N. et al. Shockwave therapy versus local steroid injection in chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 46, 141–147 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/err.err_16_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/err.err_16_18