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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Author Spotlight: Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Achilles Tendinopathy Treatment
Published on: August 2, 2024
Focused low-energy extracorporeal shock waves with distally symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPNP): a pilot study
H Lohse-Busch1, E Marlinghaus2, U Reime1
1Outpatient Department for Manual Medicine - Movement Disorder Center Rheintalklinik, Bad Krozingen, Germany.
Background:
Incidental observations led to the question whether ESWT could alleviate the still difficult-to-improve symptoms of DSPNP.
Methods:
In a pilot study, out of an original 24 patients with DSPNP, 10 patients with diabetes mellitus were excluded because of their inhomogeneous performances. Of the 14 patients remaining, 6 received one sham treatment at the beginning. All 14 patients were then treated with ESWT to the soles of the feet using the Duolith® shock wave generator (Storz Medical) 3 times weekly for 2 weeks. The assessments were carried out before and after the sham treatment, the first ESWT (question: before and after the first ESWT or only after?) and after 2, 4 and 8 weeks.
Results:
The placebo treatment did not influence pain or paraesthesia. After the 2 weeks of ESWT, intensity decreased from 100% to 23.6%, rising again after 8 weeks to 45.7% of the original state (p < 0.01). The placebo treatment did however have a great effect on walking abilities. The results of ESWT did not become significant until the 8th week. Step length improved by 14.6% (p < 0.001), walking speed by 24.8% (p < 0.001) and time of dual support during the stance phase of the gait declined by 12.2% (p < 0.009).
Conclusions:
Despite the small number of cases, it appears that ESWT can alleviate some of the symptoms of DSPNP.
