PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M H Moen
AU  - S Rayer
AU  - M Schipper
AU  - S Schmikli
AU  - A Weir
AU  - J L Tol
AU  - F J G Backx
TI  - Shockwave treatment for medial tibial stress syndrome in athletes; a prospective controlled study
AID  - 10.1136/bjsm.2010.081992
DP  - 2012 Mar 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 253--257
VI  - 46
IP  - 4
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/4/253.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/4/253.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2012 Mar 01; 46
AB  - Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the results of two treatment regimens for medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS); a graded running programme and the same running programme with additional shockwave therapy (extracorporeal shockwave therapy; ESWT). Design A prospective observational controlled trial. Setting Two different sports medicine departments. Participants 42 athletes with MTSS were included. Intervention Patients from one hospital were treated with a graded running programme, while patients from the other hospital were treated with the same graded running programme and focused ESWT (five sessions in 9 weeks). Main Outcome Measures Time to full recovery (the endpoint was being able to run 18 min consecutively without pain at a fixed intensity). Results The time to full recovery was significantly faster in the ESWT group compared with the patients who only performed a graded running programme, respectively 59.7±25.8 and 91.6±43.0 days (p=0.008). Conclusions This prospective observational study showed that MTSS patients may benefit from ESWT in addition to a graded running programme. ESWT as an additional treatment warrants further investigation in a prospective controlled trial with the addition of randomisation and double blinding.