Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Shoulder Rehabilitation: Unlocking Motion and Reducing Post-Surgical Pain.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in improving pain, range of movement, and functional outcomes in patients with shoulder stiffness following rotator-cuff repair.

Study design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China, from January 2021 to December 2023.

Methodology: Patients with postoperative shoulder stiffness after rotator-cuff repair who underwent ESWT (two sessions per week for four weeks) were enrolled. Outcomes assessed included shoulder range of movement, pain levels (numerical rating scale), Constant- Murley scores (C-M), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon scores (ASES). Data were collected at baseline and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks, and repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to assess changes over time.

Results: Sixty patients participated in the study. Significant improvements were observed across all parameters (p <0.001). Shoulder range of movement increased at all follow-up intervals (p <0.001). Pain scores decreased from a mean baseline of 7.81 ± 1.64 to 2.05 ± 1.61 at six weeks. Functional outcomes improved significantly, with C-M scores rising from 48.45 ± 9.78 to 78.50 ± 4.20 and ASES scores increasing from 46.08 ± 13.53 to 79.14 ± 4.29 by the end of the study. No adverse effects or complications related to ESWT were reported.

Conclusion: ESWT significantly enhances shoulder mobility, reduces pain, and improves function in postoperative rotator-cuff repair patients. It offers a safe and effective alternative for inclusion in rehabilitation protocols.

Key words: Rotator-cuff repair, Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, Stiffness, Functional rehabilitation, Analgesia.