Effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for mild knee osteoarthritis: A pilot study

Choi IJ, Jeon JH, Choi WH, Yang HE · Medicine

Both groups improved on pain, WOMAC and the Lequesne index (P < .05), so the symptom gain was not specific to the shockwave. Suprapatellar effusion height fell in the treated group over time and differed from control at one month. Knee flexion range and Doppler activity rose immediately after the last session and the gain was gone by the one-month follow-up. Cartilage thickness at the medial trochlea, trochlear notch and lateral trochlea showed no change over time and no difference between groups.

Population

Eighteen patients with mild knee osteoarthritis, randomised to active or sham shockwave

Intervention

0.05 mJ/mm2 total energy, 1000 pulses, once a week for three weeks

Comparator

Sham shockwave

Limitations

Eighteen people, described by its authors as a pilot, at a single centre, with follow-up ending one month after treatment; the energy is far below the 0.25 mJ/mm2 used in most trials in this literature. The measured cartilage thickness is an ultrasound reading of the femoral trochlea, not of the weight-bearing surfaces. Sham improved as much as treatment on every symptom scale. Funded by a VHS Medical Center Research Grant, Republic of Korea (VSHMC 20031); the authors declare no conflicts of interest.