Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is the most common form of arthritis followed by rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus. Symptoms involving chronic pain, morning stiffness, a grating sensation in the joint, and a loss of function which can lead to physical disability and an impaired quality of life. A retrospective study showed that compared with laser therapy patients that underwent shockwave therapy showed greater effect in symptom relief. These findings indicate that shockwave therapy could reverse osteoarthrosis progression and improve the pain. Cartilage destruction is the most obvious change associated with osteoarthritis.  

Patients were randomly assigned into four groups. Groups 1-3 received muscular strengthening exercise for 8 weeks. Group 2 received pulse ultrasound therapy. Group 3 received weekly extracorporeal shockwave therapy for 8 weeks. Group 4 was the control.  The effects of the therapies were evaluated after treatment and at a 6-month follow-up. Only groups 2 and 3 exhibited significant improvements in range of motion after treatment. Group 3 exhibited an immediate improvement in range of motion as well as the greatest increase in muscle strength after treatment and follow-up. The clinical trial has demonstrated the efficiency of using extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The shockwave therapy has beneficial effects on cartilage, subchondral bone and surrounding tissues and can provide relief from osteoarthritis pain.          

An S, et al, (2020) 40(11): BSR20200926, Bio Science Research, 

Extracorporeal shockwave treatment in knee osteoarthritis: therapeutic effects and possible mechanism 

 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7670564/pdf/bsr-40-bsr20200926.pdf