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Efficacy of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Lateral Epicondylosis, and Changes in the Common Extensor Tendon Stiffness with Pretherapy and Posttherapy in Real-Time Sonoelastography: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objective To investigate the effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) and to determine the posttreatment common extensor tendon stiffness among patients with lateral epicondylosis. Design Thirty patients with lateral epicondylosis were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group received rESWT plus physical therapy, and those in the control group received sham shock wave plus physical therapy for 3 weeks. Visual analog scale; grip strength dynamometer; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; and ultrasonography in 2-dimensional image, and real-time sonoelastography were used in the assessments at baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks (T3). Results The experimental group had more significant pain reduction at T3 than the control group. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher maximal grip strength at 12 and 24 weeks, with significant increases. Compared to baseline, the experimental group had significantly lower Taiwan version DASH disability/symptom scores and work module scores at all posttreatment follow-up points. Five participants in the experimental group had partial tear within common extensor tendon at their involved elbow, and all the tears totally healed at T3. However, the inter-rater reliabilities for real-time sonoelastography were poor to fair. Conclusions Patients with lateral epicondylosis had better and faster pain reduction, grip strength increase, and functional improvement after receiving rESWT in addition to physical therapy than those who received physical therapy only.