Clinical effects of low-energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treating enthesis in the elderly

Zhang Li; Li Chunhua; Li Xiaoying; Peng Nan; Weng Changshui

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-8521.2017.03.003

Abstract：Objective: To evaluate the effect of low-energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) for enthesis of elderly who failed of regular physical therapy. Methods: A clinical self-control study involving older patients with enthesis and failed of regular physical therapy was presented. All patients were treated weekly with low-energy rESWT (0.03～0.10 mJ/mm2 , 4～10 Hz/s) for 4-6weeks. Effect was assessed before treatment and within 1 week after the last treatment by visual analogue scales (VAS) and Barthel index of activity of daily living (ADL), and the clinical efficacy was observed. Results: Sixty-one elderly patients (averagely aged 73.0±9.20 years) with enthesis were involved in present study, of whom 13 cases suffered from scapulohumeral periarthritis, 12 from lateral epicondylitis, 29 from peritendinitis, and 7 from metatarsal fasciitis. Compared with pre-treatment, the VAS scores decreased and ADL scores increased significantly after rESWT treatment in patients with each kind of enthesis (P<0.01). The average scores of VAS decreased by 4.23±0.86 and the average scores of ADL increased by 10.16±3.87 in all the patients. After 1 course of rESWT treatment, 27 cases (44.3％) were cured, 34 cases (55.7％) were improved significantly, none were failed, and no serious side-effects were observed. Conclusions: Low-energy rESWT is a better treatment for older patients with enthesis who failed of regular physical therapy, as it is safe and effective, with less side-effects.