Where has the month of January gone! Lots going on.

Here's a quick recap of the updates I posted this month.

PS: Remember, you can follow me on LinkedIn to see these as they happen...

New and Accurate Predictive Model for the Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Managing Patients With Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

To identify factors for the outcome of a minimum clinically successful therapy and to establish a predictive model of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in managing patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.05.016

This study establishes a new and accurate predictive model for the efficacy of ESWT in managing patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. The use of these parameters, in the form of a predictive model for ESWT efficacy, has the potential to improve decision-making in the application of ESWT.

Effect of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Intra-articular Injections of Hyaluronic Acid for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Study has limitations for sure, placebo, sample size and indeed energy selection. However, ESWT and intra-articular HA therapy are effective in alleviating pain and improving physical functions in patients with knee OA. Statistically, no significant differences in curative effects were observed between the two treatments. Therefore, ESWT can be considered another option that is as effective as intra-articular HA injections for treating knee OA.

https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2017.41.5.828

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23953895 ( Zhao's study Dec 13 )

Analgesic Effect of ESWT Combined with Fascial Manipulation Theory for Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder: A Retrospective Study

Understand this study but honestly prefer ESWT as a stand alone treatment. Fascial work has on its own some really good RCTs in this study the ESWT followed fascial theory local and distally. Notable pain and slight functional improvement was achieved through this ESWT-FM.

I tend to use ESWT in late stage and get good results thereto, excellent with Diabetic patients

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3450940

Comparative Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and Ultrasound-Guided Local Corticosteroid Injection Treatment for Plantar Fascii

This was floating around last week on Twitter, worth a share for sure and not surprise from the JAPMA.

http://www.japmaonline.org/doi/abs/10.7547/14-114

Conclusions: Both rESWT and corticosteroid injection therapy are effective modalities for treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. However, rESWT seems to be superior to corticosteroid injection therapy due to its longer duration of action.

Comparison of single-dose radial extracorporeal shock wave and local corticosteroid injection for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome

Good news for mild-moderate severe CTS, for RSWT users, similar to results from London Olympics. See EMS for this info.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-018-1948-3

Recent studies have reported that radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) reduces pain and improves function in patients with mild to moderately severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compared to a placebo. However, most of those studies used multi-session rESWT combined with wrist support and evaluation of efficacy was limited to a maximum of 14 weeks.

There was significantly greater improvement in symptom severity scores, functional scores and Boston questionnaire scores at weeks 12 to 24 in the rESWT group compared to the LCsI group. When compared to the baseline, there was significant reduction of VAS and functional score in the rESWT group at weeks 12 and 24. The LCsI group had no statistically significant differences in VAS reduction and functional score of the same period.

Conclusions

Treatment of CTS using single-dose rESWT has a carry-over effect lasting up to 24 weeks suggesting that single-dose rESWT is appropriate for treatment of mild to moderate CTS and provides longer-lasting benefits than LCsI.

What to watch out for...

There's some really intersting news on a new development for Shockwave in the UK happening in March. Stay tuned and I'll update you as soon as I can.

I'm also seeing more and more social reports and comments on Shockwave which can only be a good thing around the world. It's great that more people are starting to spread the word.