Purpose of the study: Is there a pain reduction at the application site after extracorporeal shockwave application for tendinitis calcarea, epicondylitis radialis and plantar fasziitis?
Methods: In a prospective study 85 patients were observed. Shockwave application was performed three or five times using low energies (0.09-0.18 ml/mm2). Before and after shockwave application pain was evaluated using SF-36 score and Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Results: After 5 months for all three indications a significant improvement of the pain situation could be reached. Patients with plantar fasziitis demonstrated the highest decrease of pain, followed by tendinosis calcarea and epicondylitis radialis. The number of applications had no influence to the clinical result of the ESWT.
Relevance: In the present study the analgetic effect of ESWT after repeated low-energy application was described for the standard indications.