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A single application of low-energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective for the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (SWT) is effective for the management of chronic recalcitrant tendinopathy. The objective of the current study was to assess whether a standardized, single treatment SWT is effective for the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy

Methods

Thirty-three patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy received low-energy SWT. Thirty-three patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy received other forms of non-operative therapy (control group). Evaluation was by change in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Victoria Institute of Sport Assessment score for patellar tendinopathy (VISA-P) score and by Roles and Maudsley Score.

Results

Mean pre-treatment VAS scores for the control and SWT groups were 7.5 and 7.8, respectively. One month, 3 months, and 12 months after treatment, the mean VAS for the control and SWT groups were 6.7 and 4.3 (p < 0.001), 5.9 and 3.5 (p < 0.001), and 5.1 and 2.7 (p < 0.001), respectively. One month, 3 months, and 12 months after treatment, the mean VISA for the control and SWT groups were 50.7 and 65.5 (p < 0.001), 52.1 and 71 (p < 0.001), and 54.9 and 74.5 (p < 0.001), respectively. At final follow-up, the number of excellent, good, fair, and poor results for the SWT and control groups were 8 and 3 (p < 0.001), 17 and 10 (p < 0.001), 5 and 16 (p < 0.001), and 3 and 4 (p < 0.001), respectively. The percentage of patients with excellent (“1”) or good (“2”) Roles and Maudsley Scores (i.e. successful results) 12 months after treatment was statistically greater in the SWT group compared to the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

A single application of radial SWT is an effective treatment for chronic patellar tendinopathy.

Level of evidence

III.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SUN Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, 900 Buffalo Road, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA

    John P. Furia

  2. OrthoTrauma Evaluation Center, 55130, Mainz, Germany

    Jan D. Rompe

  3. Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 67100, Rome, L’Aquila, Italy

    Angelo Cacchio

  4. Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Biomedico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, Rome, Italy

    Angelo Del Buono

  5. Centre for Sports and Exercise, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, E1 4DG, UK

    Nicola Maffulli

Authors
  1. John P. Furia
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  2. Jan D. Rompe
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  3. Angelo Cacchio
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  4. Angelo Del Buono
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  5. Nicola Maffulli
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Correspondence to Nicola Maffulli.

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Furia, J.P., Rompe, J.D., Cacchio, A. et al. A single application of low-energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective for the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21, 346–350 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2057-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2057-8

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