ABSTRACT
The objective of this randomized study was to compare a thermotherapy system, hyperthermia at 434 MHz and conventional ultrasound in the treatment of overuse sports tendinopathies. The study group consisted of 44 athletes, 33 males and 11 females (age 26 +/- 4.56 years) affected by tendinopathies at lower extremities (patellar or achilles tendons). After elucidation of the kind of trial, 22 patients were randomly assigned to hyperthermia and 22 to ultrasound. The patients received after a pain measurement and ultrasound scanning 12 treatments, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The same standardized examination was done at the end of treatment and 1 month after the end of treatment. The assessor physician was unaware of the treatment allocation. The patients were asked to rate the ultimate outcome on the base of pain resolution and return to sports activity. Both groups had a significant decrease of symptoms (P<0.001). Hyperthermia, however, demonstrated better effects on the reduction of VAS score and on the subjective overall satisfaction (77 %) of excellent and good results in comparison to the 33 % of ultrasound. In patients with chronic overuse tendinopathies hyperthermia at 434 MHz showed encouraging results, with short-term clinical improvement, safety and no side effects.
Subject(s)
Achilles Tendon/injuries , Athletic Injuries/therapy , Cumulative Trauma Disorders/therapy , Hyperthermia, Induced , Patellar Ligament/injuries , Tendinopathy/therapy , Achilles Tendon/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Athletic Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Cumulative Trauma Disorders/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Hyperthermia, Induced/instrumentation , Male , Patellar Ligament/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonic Therapy , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hyperthermia equipment using a 434 MHz applicator with water bolus elevate to therapeutic temperatures (from 41 to 45 degrees C) delineated volumes of tissue target, down to a depth of 3 to 5 cm. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of hyperthermia in the treatment of muscle injuries, in comparison with a conventional modality like ultrasound. METHODS: A prospective randomised controlled design was used. Forty patients, 29 males and 11 females, with mean age of 26.2+/-3 ranging between 18 and 35 years affected by acute muscular injuries of different sites and severity participated this study. Twenty-one patients received hyperthermia (group A) and the remaining 19 (group B) ultrasound. Both groups received nine applications, three times per week with a duration of 30' for the group (A), and 15' for the group (B). All the patients underwent a clinical examination including a pain measurement and a ultrasound scanning before, at the end and after one month follow-up. An additional ultrasonography was made after the fourth session to compare the effect of each treatment on the initial course of haematoma resolution. RESULTS: Both groups had a significant decrease of the pain (p< 0.001). The hyperthermia group showed a significantly higher effect on VAS score and on haematoma resolution after two weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Even with a limited number of cases our results show that the hyperthermia is a highly innovative, safe and reliable modality for the treatment of acute sport muscle injuries.
Subject(s)
Athletic Injuries/therapy , Hyperthermia, Induced/methods , Muscle, Skeletal/injuries , Ultrasonic Therapy/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Athletic Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Hyperthermia, Induced/instrumentation , Male , Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging , Pain Measurement , Prospective Studies , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwaves therapy (ESWT) in patients with chronic painful shoulder. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a prospective design was used with a short term follow-up. SETTING: data were collected at the Service of Physioterapy in Villa Stuart Clinic-Rome. PATIENTS: 72 patients of both sexes with an average age of 38 years (range 18 to 69) affected by chronic painful shoulder, whose symptoms lasted more than 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: all patients received on average, 2,000 impulses of ESWT at level 5 energy (0.21 mJ/mm2) according to Dornier Epos equipment one session per week for 8 weeks. MEASURES: all cases underwent an instrumental examination with X-ray conventional imaging and clinical assessment of pain (visual analogue scale) and functional limitation of the shoulder, two weeks before the treatment and at one month follow-up. RESULTS: 53% of patient scored excellent results, 14% good, 13% fair and 20% poor. In the group of calcifying tendinitis we had a reduction in 37% and no changes in 63%. CONCLUSIONS: Even with a limited number of cases our early results show the efficacy and safety of ESWT in the treatment of chronic painful shoulder resistant to other conservative approaches.
