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Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
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Shockwave therapy versus local steroid injection in chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation volume 46, pages 141–147 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of shockwave therapy versus ultrasound-guided steroid injection in the treatment of chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy.

Patients and methods

This study was carried out on 30 patients with calcific and noncalcific supraspinatus tendinopathy for more than 3 months. A clinical assessment was performed for all patients including pain scoring by the visual analog scale and full shoulder examination at the start of the study and 6 weeks later. Shoulder ultrasound was performed at the start of the study. Fifteen patients received four sessions of radial shockwave therapy (Intelect Radial Shockwave, UK) 3 bar pressure, 2000 pulses, 20Hz. Fifteen patients received a single ultrasound-guided subacromial steroid injection (1ml triamcinolone 40mg and 1ml lidocaine).

Results

Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief (visual analog scale) and clinical examination: tenderness, shoulder range of motion, and muscle power. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups.

Conclusion

Radial shockwave therapy has no additional benefit over ultrasound-guided steroid injection in the short term in patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11471, Egypt

    Mona Zamzam, Ahmed El Yasaki, Nermin El Garabawy & Lamiaa Emad E. El Ghandour MSc

Authors
  1. Mona Zamzam
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  2. Ahmed El Yasaki
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  3. Nermin El Garabawy
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  4. Lamiaa Emad E. El Ghandour MSc
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lamiaa Emad E. El Ghandour MSc.

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Zamzam, M., El Yasaki, A., El Garabawy, N. et al. Shockwave therapy versus local steroid injection in chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 46, 141–147 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/err.err_16_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/err.err_16_18

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