Extracorporeal shockwave therapy vs. kinesiotherapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a degenerative, painful pathology, needing conservative treatment for symptoms' relief.

OBJECTIVE: Comparing the effects of Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and Kinesiotherapy (KIN) on perceived health and range of motion (ROM) of the affected knee.

METHOD: A pilot randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, intention-to-treat analysis. Forty participants, aged 40-75 with OA of the knee were randomized to an ESWT and a KIN groups. The ESWT group completed 5 interventions for 5 weeks, the KIN group completed the same number of interventions. All evaluations were performed at baseline and after the treatment for: perceived health (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities questionnaire - WOMAC), range of motion (ROM).

RESULTS: After the intervention the statistical significant between groups differences favoring the ESWT were found in the WOMAC with regard to pain (p< 0.000), stiffness (p= 0.018), physical function (p< 0.000), total score (p< 0.000), extension and flexion of the affected knee (p= 0.015, p< 0.000) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: ESWT improves WOMAC and ROM better then KIN on the affected knee in patients with OA of the knee.