Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff: A review

Since 1992 extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been used in the treatment of pain, in various tendinopathies, including plantar fascitis, heel spur, epicondylitis, calcific and non-calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff. The exact mechanism by which ESWT relieves tendon-associated pain is not known; however, numerous controlled and non-controlled studies have demonstrated the efficacy of ESWT in the treatment of various tendinopathies, including plantar fascitis, heel spur and epicondylitis. Based on personal experiences and analysis of the literature, this review confirmed that ESWT is an effective therapeutic procedure with no side-effects in the treatment of calcific rotator cuff tendonitis, and which can be considered a valuable alternative to conventional treatments. © 2006 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.