ABSTRACT
Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate extracorporeal shock waves therapy on Achilles tendopathy and evaluate its short‐term effectiveness .Methods The subjects were out‐patients with Achilles tendopathy who came to center for Joint Surgery ,Southwest Hospital ,from Dec .1st 2012 to Dec .1st 2013 .The main symptom of these patients showed pain at the hock site ,while the pain could be released with rest .Before the treatment ,routine checkups were performed including X‐ray of ankle joint with normal side and MRI ,which brought out a definite diagnosis and evacuated other reasons resulting pain .The treatment of blast was 2 000 pulse per time ,once a week and four times in total .During the treatment period ,patients were suggested to prevent from strenuous exercise and had the anodyne on the evening of the first day when they underwent the shock waves .VAS and AO‐FAS was used to evaluate the effectiveness with the records ,before the treatment ,after four‐time treatment ,after three‐month treatment .Patients′complications and follow‐ups were recorded and VAS results were assessed with statistical analysis .Results 32 patients had full follow‐ups .22 of them had insertion tendopathy .10 patients had non‐insertion tendopathy .8 patients had bilat‐eral lesion and 24 patients had unilateral lesion .Part of erythema appeared in five patients and could be relieved after rest .One pa‐tient achieved pain release after four‐time treatment ,but fell down going downstairs and resulted rupture of tendon .All patients had VAS assessment for three times ,with the score 8 .2 ± 1 .5 before the treatment(P0 .05) .The score of AOFAS were 72 .2 ± 5 .1 ,86 .3 ± 5 .2 and 91 .3 ± 3 .5(P<0 .01) .Conclusion When treating on Achilles tendopathy ,extracorporeal shock wave can improve the local symptoms .With minor trauma and reliable outcome ,it brings patients benefits that treat tendon disease without surgery or postponing the surgery .