ESWT vs Cryo-US Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: One Year Follow up Study
Tendinopathy
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Tendinopathy focused on measuring Elbow pain, lateral epicondylitis, conservative treatment, shock wave treatment, therapeutic ultrasound
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- an age range from 18 to 75 years
- clinical or instrumental diagnosis of chronic lateral epicondylitis, present for at least three months
- intensity of pain of more than 5 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) performing a maximum voluntary resisted isometric wrist extension with the elbow in extension (Cozen test)
- the failure of conservative treatments previously made
- a wash-out period of at least 12 weeks since the last conservative therapy carried out before inclusion in the study
- capability of filling in the questionnaires and signing the consent form
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous treatment with Cryo-US, ultrasound therapy, ESWT
- The conjoint presence of bilateral or lateral and medial epicondylitis
- Acute infection of the soft tissues or the bones adjacent to the area of treatment
- Local bleedings or skin lesions, pathologies of the blood coagulation, or use of anticoagulant drugs
- Pacemaker, pregnancy
- Neoplastic disease
- Raynaud's disease, altered thermal and pain sensitivity, or cold intolerance
- Evidence of elbow bursitis, or articular or synovial pathologies; signs of elbow laxity or instability
- Cervicobrachialgia; syndrome of ulnar, radial, or posterior interosseous nerve entrapment
Sites / Locations
- Sant'Andrea Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
ESWT Group
Cryo-US Group
Focused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: 3 sessions were carried out, with the time interval between sessions spanning between 48 and 72 hours. In each session, 2400 pulses were administered with energy flux density (EDF) ranging from 0.14 and 0.20 mJ/mm2
Therapeutic cryoultrasound: 12 sessions was performed in a continuous emission modality, using an ultrasound emission power rating of 1,8 Watt/cm2, and a temperature of -2˚C, for a total of 12 sessions lasting 20 minutes each.