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

ABSTRACT

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.