Introduction:

the use of shockwaves is an option to consider in the treatment of epicondylitis.

Objective:

to assess the medium-term effectiveness of piezoelectric shockwave treatment with ultrasound support in lateral epicondilitis.

Material and method:

quasi-experimental study from June 2015 to March 2017 in Servicio Medicina Física y Rehabilitación of Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España. Sample of 25 patients with lateral epicondylitis. Three treatment sessions were carried out, with shockwaves (PiezoWave F10 G4) with ultrasound support, a weekly session and review at 3 months. Variables studied: pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and degree of satisfaction (Roles and Maudsley Score).

Results:

25 patients treated with 3 sessions and reviewed at 3 months. Average age of patients 51.72 years. Average intensity 0.32 mJ/mm ². Median frequency 8 Hz. Median depth focus 5mm. 2000 pulses/session were applied. 86.4 % of patients obtained moderate or large VAS improvement at 3 months. There is a statistically significant improvement of the EVA between the different treatment sessions, a result that is maintained at three months (p < 0.05). The degree of patient satisfaction according to Roles and Maudsley Score was excellent or good in 68.2 % of patients.

Conclusions:

treatment with echoguided shockwaves was effective and safe in epicondylitis, obtaining good results in terms of pain relief and patient satisfaction.

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