How to report parameters and procedures for shockwave therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: A narrative review

Shockwave therapy (SWT) has been successful in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. The limitations of the use of SWT in clinical practice regard a lack of familiarity with the device and the lack of uniformity in information reported in scientific publications. Standardization in the reporting of these parameters could facilitate the reproduction and interpretation of data in future studies. Most studies fail to offer a detailed description of the parameters. Therefore, the aim of the present paper is to prepare a report on how to standardize the presentation of this information and serve a reference guide to report physical parameters and procedures of SWT when used on patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The terms were selected from the Medical Subject Headings database of controlled vocabulary. An extensive process of systematic searching of databases was performed, after which experts met and discussed on the main findings, and a consensus was achieved. SWT parameters were described, including the physiological meaning and clinical relevance of each parameter. Also, the description of patient and equipment positioning was added. The consensus-based guideline on how to report SWT parameters for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions was developed to help clinicians and researchers.