According to a recently done meta-analysis, the patients with knee soft tissue disorders and related pain & distorted range of motion can be cure efficaciously through extracorporeal shock wave therapy. 

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an approach which is generally used clinically to treat orthopaedic problems. Predominantly, ESWT is categorized into focused shock-wave treatment (FoSWT) and radial shock-wave therapy (RaSWT).

Chun-De Liao and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis and evaluated energy levels, duration of the treatment and efficacy of ESWT and various associated shock-wave types on soft tissue knee disorders. Search engines and databases were looked for related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) without any language or year barrier. A meta-analysis and risk of bias assessment were conducted. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (Cls) for the TSR (treatment success rate) was assessed to detect ESWT pool effect sizes. The range of motion (ROM) and the reduced pain was determined by calculating SMDs (standardized mean differences) with 95% Cls.

The total RCTs included in the analysis were nineteen of medium and high methodological quality and with ≥5/10 Physiotherapy Evidence Database score. ESWT exhibited significant efficacy in reducing pain (SMD: - 1.49), restoring ROM (SMD: 1.76) and TSR (OR: 3.36). The significance level noticed for ESWT in pain reduction, ROM restoration and TSR was P< 0.00001, < 0.00001 and < 0.0001 respectively. Further, as per subgroup analysis, RaSWT (SMD: - 1.80 ) and FoSWT (SMD:- 3.13 ) reflected remarkable efficacy in reducing pain when applied for the extended period (p< 0.00001 and 0.02, respectively). The High-energy RaSWT showed higher efficacy for TST as compared to low-energy RaSWT; whereas the results noticed were inverse in the case of FoSWT. The shock-wave types and their application levels have distinct efficacy in managing soft tissue knee disorders.