Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in the Treatment of Achilles Tendinopathy: Clinical and Functional Outcomes

Aim: Chronic Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is one of the most common tendon pathologies, andconservative treatment often fails to produce satisfactory results. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in chronic and refractory AT.Materials and Methods: A total of 195 patients who had undergone ESWT for AT refractory tostandard conservative treatment were assessed retrospectively, and 64 patients (64 feet) whomet our eligibility criteria were included. The patients underwent three sessions of ESWT, eachwith 2000 pulses at a dose of 0.06–0.12 mJ/mm2 (low-dose). Pain levels and clinical/functional scores were measured before the treatment (BT) and at the 3rd and 12th weeks of the lastsession, by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the American Orthopedic Foot and AnkleSociety (AOFAS) scoring system.Results: Of the 64 patients included, 48 were female and 16 were male. The mean patient agewas 47.9 years. There was improvement in pain, the mean VAS scores changing from 7.4 (5–10)BT to 4 (2–7) at week 3 (p<0.001) and 1.5 (0–6) at week 12 (p<0.001). The mean AOFAS scoreswere also improved, changing from 60 (48–75) BT to 74.8 (62–90) at week 3 (p<0.001) and 86.6(62–100) at week 12 (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between maleand female patients with respect to the improvement recorded in the VAS scores (p=0.163).Discussion and Conclusion: Low-dose ESWT can produce successful clinical results in thetreatment of chronic AT refractory to standard conservative treatment.Amaç: Kronik Aşil tendinopatisi (AT) en sık görülen tendon patolojilerindendir ve konservatif tedavi çoğunlukla tatmin edici sonuçlar vermez. Bu çalışmada ekstrakorporeal şok dalga tedavisinin (ESWT) kronik ve refrakter AT’deki etkililiğini araştırmak amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Standart konservatif tedaviye refrakter AT nedeniyle ESWT uygulanmış olan 195 hasta geriye dönük olarak incelendi ve uygunluk kriterlerimize uyan 64 hasta (64 ayak) çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastalara, her seansta 0,06–0, 12 mJ/mm2 (düşük doz) dozunda 2000 atım olacak şekilde, 3 seans ESWT uygulandı. Ağrı düzeyleri ve klinik/fonksiyonel skorlar Görsel Analog Skalası (VAS) ve Amerikan Ortopedik Ayak ve Ayak Bileği Birliği (AOFAS) skorlama sistemi kullanılarak tedavi öncesinde (TÖ) ve son seansın 3. ve 12. haftasında ölçüldü. Bulgular: Çalışmaya alınan 64 hastanın 48’i kadın, 16’sı erkekti ve ortalama hasta yaşı 47,9 yıl idi. Ağrıda iyileşme söz konusuydu; ortalama VAS skorlarının TÖ 7,4’ten (5–10) 3. haftada 4’e (2–7) (p<0,001) ve 12. haftada ise 1,5’e (0–6) (p<0,001) gerilediği gözlendi. Ortalama AOFAS skorları da TÖ 60’tan (48–75) 3. haftada 74,8’e (62–90) (p<0,001) ve 12. haftada ise 86,6’ya (62–100) (p