Dose-Related Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the dose-related effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for plantar fasciitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with plantar fasciitis despite conservative treatment were enrolled. The patients were divided into a low-energy group (group L: n=30, 1,000 shocks/session, energy flux density [EFD] per shock 0.08 mJ/mm2) and a medium-energy group (group M: n=30, 1,000 shocks/session, EFD 0.16 mJ/mm2). The main outcome measures were visual analogue scale (VAS), Roles and Maudsley (RM) score, and thickness of plantar fascia (PF). To compare the effects between each group, follow-up was carried out 1 week after 3 and 6 sessions, and 1 and 3 months after ESWT. RESULTS: Significant VAS and RM score improvement, and PF thickness reduction were observed in both groups (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Therapeutic effect might disclose a dose-related relationship; therefore, EFD and the times of the session are considerable factors when treating with ESWT.

Dose Related Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Lateral Epicondylitis / 대한스포츠의학회지

The aim of this study was to investigate the dose-related effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on the lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. Between March 2005 and March 2008, 66 patients who had been treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy due to lateral epicondylitis of elbow formed the subjects. The subjects were divided into the 1st, 2nd and the 3rd treatment group and evaluated the clinical outcomes by visual analog scale (VAS) and a simple elbow test (SET) at immediate treatment, posttreatment 6 and 12 months, retrospectively. Changes in VAS score between the 2nd and 3rd treatment group and between the 1st and 3rd treatment group showed significant difference only at posttreatment 1 month group (p=0.001, 0.2, 0.1), (p=0.03, 0.08, 0.3), but Visual Analog Scale score at posttreatment 1 month showed no difference within the groups (p=1.0, 0.2, 0.07). SET within and between the groups showed significant difference at posttreatment 6 and 12 months (p<0.05).

Dose-related Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Lateral Epicondylitis : Prospective Randomized Double Blind Comparative Study

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the dose-related effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for lateral epicondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with refractory lateral epicondylitis despite conservative treatment for 6 months were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into a low- and highenergy group. All patients were treated 3 times with ESWT with an interval of 1 week in a double blinded manner. The mean energy level in the low- and high-energy group was 0.12 mJ/mm2 and 0.24 mJ/mm2, respectively. The upper extremity functional scales and Mayo elbow scores were measured prospectively at the baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months after ESWT. RESULTS: Significant clinical improvement was observed in both groups after ESWT. The high-energy group showed better pain improvement at 6 months after ESWT (p=0.019). The effect of ESWT was dominant between 1 and 6 months after ESWT than within 1 month. CONCLUSION: ESWT for lateral epicondylitis demonstrated showed good results regardless of the energy dose. However, a high-energy level was more effective in pain improvement after 6 months of treatment.