Is radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with a specific rehabilitation program (rESWT + RP) more effective than sham-rESWT + RP for acute hamstring muscle complex injury type 3b in athletes? Study protocol for a prospective, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled single centre trial

Polydeoxyribonucleotide and Shock Wave Therapy Sequence Efficacy in Regenerating Immobilized Rabbit Calf Muscles

This study primarily aimed to investigate the combined effects of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) sequences on the regenerative processes in atrophied animal muscles. Thirty male New Zealand rabbits, aged 12 weeks, were divided into five groups: normal saline (Group 1), PDRN (Group 2), ESWT (Group 3), PDRN injection before ESWT (Group 4), and PDRN injection after ESWT (Group 5). After 2 weeks of cast immobilization, the respective treatments were administered to the atrophied calf muscles. Radial ESWT was performed twice weekly. Calf circumference, tibial nerve compound muscle action potential (CMAP), and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscle thickness after 2 weeks of treatment were evaluated. Histological and immunohistochemical staining, as well as Western blot analysis, were conducted 2 weeks post-treatment. Staining intensity and extent were assessed using semi-quantitative scores. Groups 4 and 5 demonstrated significantly greater calf muscle circumference, GCM muscle thickness, tibial nerve CMAP, and GCM muscle fiber cross-sectional area (type I, type II, and total) than the remaining three groups (p < 0.05), while they did not differ significantly in these parameters. Groups 2 and 3 showed higher values for all the mentioned parameters than Group 1 (p < 0.05). Group 4 had the greatest ratio of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in the GCM muscle fibers compared to the other four groups (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed significantly higher expression of angiogenesis cytokines in Groups 4 and 5 than in the other groups (p < 0.05). The combination of ESWT and PDRN injection demonstrated superior regenerative efficacy for atrophied calf muscle tissue in rabbit models compared to these techniques alone or saline. In particular, administering ESWT after PDRN injection yielded the most favorable outcomes in specific parameters.

Comparison between radial and focused types of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy in plantar calcaneal spur: A randomized sham-controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Both radial and focused types of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) have been used in patients with plantar calcaneal spur (PCS). However, no study has yet addressed the comparative effects of these treatments on the condition. Considering radial and focused waves are different from each other, their effectiveness may also be different in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of radial and focused types of ESWT on PCS.

METHODS

Ninety-nine patients with plantar calcaneal spur were randomised into three groups according to ESWT types: focused, radial, and sham. ESWT was applied as three sessions, with 2-4 days intervals (excluding weekends). All patients were evaluated at baseline (week 0) and weeks 1, 5, and 13. The Foot Function Index (FFI) scores were used as outcome measures.

RESULTS

Compared with baseline (week 0), at the end of treatment (week 1) and at the follow-up periods (weeks 5, and 13) the FFI scores were significantly reduced in both focused and radial ESWT groups (for all, p < 0.001). When considering the change in data from baseline to follow-up periods (weeks 5, and 13), both focused and radial ESWT groups were significantly superior to the sham group in the all outcome measures (for all, p < 0.05). Importantly, the radial group was significantly superior to focused group based on the changes in the FFI scores (for all, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both focused ESWT and radial ESWT are effective in plantar calcaneal spur. When considering the degree and continuity of the positive effects, radial ESWT is superior to focused ESWT in plantar calcaneal spur.

Effects of Repeated Injection of 1% Lidocaine vs. Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Treating Myofascial Trigger Points: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Objectives: This study tested the hypothesis that treatment of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle (UTM) with repeated injection of 1% lidocaine results in better alleviation of muscular stiffness and soreness as well as improved metabolism in the hypercontracted MTrP area than treatment with radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT). Materials and Methods: A single-blinded, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted on patients suffering from MTrPs in the UTM. Thirty patients were treated with repeated injection of 2 mL of 1% lidocaine (three injections; one injection per week). Another 30 patients were treated with rESWT (three treatment sessions; one treatment session per week; 2000 radial extracorporeal shock waves per treatment session; positive energy flux density = 0.10 mJ/mm2). The primary outcome measure was pain severity using the VAS score. The secondary outcome measures included muscle elasticity index, pressure pain threshold and neck disability index. Evaluation was performed at baseline (T1), 15−30 min after the first treatment in order to register immediate treatment effects (T2), before the second treatment (i.e., one week after baseline) (T3) and one week after the third treatment (i.e., four weeks after baseline) (T4). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the primary and secondary outcome measures between the patients in the lidocaine arm and the patients in the rESWT arm at T1 and T4. Within the arms, the mean differences of all outcomes were statistically significant (p < 0.001) when comparing the data obtained at T1 with the data obtained at T3 and the data obtained at T4. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that the use of rESWT in patients with MTrPs in the UTM is safe and leads to reduced pain and improved muscle elasticity, pressure pain threshold and neck disability index, without adverse effects. Larger trials are necessary to verify this. Clinicians should consider rESWT instead of injections of lidocaine in the treatment of MTrPs in the UTM.

Application of shock wave therapy in the treatment of calcific tendinopathies

Tendons are the soft tissue that connects muscles to bones. They are made of collagen and elastin, they are strong and solid, and have no possibility of contraction. Their strength helps us to move. Recovery of tendon injuries is long-lasting and can take more than six months. If a tendon is shed during a time injury, calcification occurs at the site of the injury and the disease is called calcifying tendinopathy. The very existence of calcifications is an indication for treatment with a mechanical shock wave (Shock wave). Mechanical shock waves can act in focus or radially. The difference between focused and radial waves is primarily in their physical basis. Focused shock waves differ from radial shock waves in terms of therapeutic depth of penetration into the tissue. The basic biological effect of a mechanical shock wave is stimulating. The energy of the mechanical shock wave acts at the cellular level by stimulating the reduction of inflammation and pain in the tissue. Using mechanical shock wave in the treatment of calcified tendinopathies, a safe method for breaking calcifications was obtained. Shock wave can be applied to using: different frequency, different number of strokes, as well as different strength of strokes in their studies. The choice of parameters for the application depends on whether it is calcified or non-calcified tendinopathy. Indications for the use are: painful shoulder, heel spur, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, Achilles tendon tendinopathy, jumping knee, patellar tendinitis, myalgia, myogelosis and muscular tendon overstrain syndrome. Contraindications for the use are: the existence of prostheses, knees and hips, as well as various orthopedic material, pacemaker, as well as the presence of chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or tumors. The application of a mechanical shock wave is new, non-invasive method, easy to apply, always reduces pain and practically without side effects. This method has a special role in the treatment of chronic inflammation of diseased tendons, with or without calcification. The only dilemma in the application of a mechanical shock wave can be in the number of applications as well as the time break between the applications of two consecutive mechanical shock waves therapy.

Return to play after treating acute muscle injuries in elite football players with radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy

Background

To compare lay-off times achieved by treating acute muscle injuries in elite football players with a multimodal therapy approach that includes a specific protocol of almost daily radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) with corresponding data reported in the literature.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of treatments and recovery times of muscle injuries suffered by the players of an elite football team competing in the first/second German Bundesliga during one of the previous seasons.

Results

A total of 20 acute muscle injuries were diagnosed and treated in the aforementioned season, of which eight (40%) were diagnosed as Type 1a/muscular tightness injuries, five (25%) as Type 2b/muscle strain injuries, four (20%) as Type 3a/partial muscle tear injuries and three (15%) as contusions. All injuries were treated with the previously mentioned multimodal therapy approach. Compared with data reported by Ekstrand et al. (Br J Sports Med 47:769–774, 2013), lay-off times (median/mean) were shortened by 54% and 58%, respectively, in the case of Type 1a injuries, by 50% and 55%, respectively, in the case of Type 2b injuries as well as by 8% and 21%, respectively, in the case of Type 3a injuries. No adverse reactions were observed.

Conclusions

Overall, the multimodal therapy approach investigated in this study is a safe and effective treatment approach for treating Type 1a and 2b acute muscle injuries amongst elite football players and may help to prevent more severe, structural muscle injuries.

Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Patients with Acute Low Back Pain-Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) primarily on acute lumbar back pain (aLBP), and secondarily on physical function and quality of life. This randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blinded trial with 12-week follow-up (FU) randomized 63 patients with aLBP 1:1 into two groups receiving either rESWT (intervention) or sham rESWT (placebo) with a manipulated shockwave head not delivering any shockwaves. Both, rESWT and sham procedure were carried out eight times for four weeks. Both groups received additional analgesics and physiotherapy twice a week. Primary patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) was the visual analogue scale for aLBP (VAS-LBP). Secondary PROMs included the Oswestry disability index (ODI), Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), EuroQol EQ-5D-3L, and the Beck Depression Index (BDI-II). Primary endpoint was a between-arm comparison of mean changes in VAS-LBP from baseline to final FU. At randomization, there were no differences between the two groups in relation to age and PROMs. Both groups showed significant improvement in all PROMs at final FU. VAS-LBP declined by 60.7% (p < 0.001) in the intervention and by 86.4% (p < 0.001) in the sham group. The intervention group showed significantly less pain relief after 4 and 12 weeks. The EQ-5D submodality pain showed significantly inferior results for the intervention (1.5 (0.58)) compared to the sham group (1.1 (0.33)) (p < 0.014) after eight weeks. No significant intergroup differences were observed for RDQ, ODI or BDI-II. Additional rESWT alongside conventional guideline therapy in aLBP does not have any significant effects on pain intensity, physical function, or quality of life. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study with a high level of evidence reporting the efficacy of rESWT in aLBP treatment and will be a future basis for decision-making.

Influence of different energy patterns on efficacy of radial shock wave therapy

BACKGROUND

One of the mechanisms of the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for impaired muscle coordination of limbs is the destruction of Acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at neuromuscular junction. The highly increased density of AChRs can change the acoustic impedance, and this change of the acoustic impedance can be the reason that radial shock wave (rESW) destroy AChRs selectively. However, the relationship between applied energy of rESWs and the therapeutic efficacy remains unclear, although some studies compared the clinical efficacy of rESWT between high- and low-energy applications. This study aimed to compare the CMAP change among different energy and pulses of rESW application.

METHODS

Male Sprauger-Dawley rats were used. A device that generates radial shock waves pneumatically, was used to apply the following six patterns of radial extracorporeal shockwaves in different energy flux densities and pulses to the right calf of each rat: 1, 8000 pulses at 0.045 mJ/mm²; 2, 4000 pulses at 0.09 mJ/mm²; 3, 2000 pulses at 0.18 mJ/mm²; 4, 4000 pulses at 0.045 mJ/mm²; 5, 2000 pulses at 0.09 mJ/mm²; 6, 1000 pulses at 0.18 mJ/mm². Left calf muscles were considered controls.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in CMAP amplitude between control and rESW-exposed muscles in the group applied 4000 pulses with EFD at 0.09 mJ/mm² and the group applied 2000 pulses with EFD at 0.18 mJ/mm². However, the group applied 8000 pulses with EFD at 0.045 mJ/mm² and all groups which was exposed to total 180 mJ rESW application did not show a significantly decreased CMAP amplitude compared with the untreated side.

CONCLUSIONS

Total energy and energy flux density correlate with a decrease in CMAP amplitude by rESW application. These findings could be availed by clinicians in actual clinical setting for the proper application of rESW.