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Are Extracorporeal Shock Waves Just a Therapeutic Tool?
Bernardo Gialanella1, Laura Comini2, Gian Pietro Bonometti1
1Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neuromotor Rehabilitation Unit, Institute of Lumezzane, 25065 Lumezzane, Italy.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 9, 2024
Summary
Focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can identify painful sites in musculoskeletal conditions. This method helps assess pain thresholds and tailor treatments effectively.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pain Management
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is established for musculoskeletal conditions.
- ESWT-induced pain, while a side effect, can pinpoint painful areas and measure pain thresholds.
- Limited research exists on utilizing ESWT-induced pain for diagnostic purposes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a method for using ESWT to investigate pain in patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
- To assess the utility of ESWT in identifying painful sites and measuring pain thresholds.
Main Methods:
- An observational study involving 71 patients.
- A systematic approach of moving the ESWT transducer over joint surfaces.
- Progressively increasing energy levels until pain is reported by the patient.
Main Results:
- Minimum (MiTI) and maximum (MaTI) pain thresholds were significantly lower in affected joints compared to healthy joints.
- ESWT induced pain at 94.37% of sites with highest subjective pain, exceeding digital pressure detection.
- All sites identified by digital pressure also exhibited pain with ESWT.
Conclusions:
- The ESWT device shows potential as a tool for pain investigation in musculoskeletal disorders.
- This approach may aid in tailoring ESWT treatments to individual patient needs.
