Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for tendonitis of the rotator cuff

High-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) focused on the calcific deposit appears to be effective in the treatment of calcific rotator cuff tendonitis whereas low-energy ESWT for patients with non-calcific RC tendonitis appears to be ineffective.

A systematic review including 16 studies, 5 RCTs (n=334) and 11 non-randomised studies (n=835) was abstracted in DARE. There was moderate evidence that high-energy ESWT is effective in treating chronic calcific rotator cuff tendonitis when the shock waves are focused at the calcified deposit. There was moderate evidence that low-energy ESWT is not effective for treating chronic noncalcific rotator cuff tendonitis, although this conclusion is based on only one high-quality study, which was underpowered.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by limitations in study quality (e.g. inadequate or unclear allocation concealment and blinding, poor reporting of the results and inadequate intention-to-treat adherence).

Ədəbiyyat

1. Harniman E, Carette S, Kennedy C, Beaton D. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for calcific and noncalcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff: a systematic review. J Hand Ther 2004 Apr-Jun;17(2):132-51.