Abstract

Background. Focused shockwaves have been successfully used in orthopaedics and physiotherapy for over twenty years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of focused shockwaves in treating patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (OFH), as well as their effectiveness as a therapy for tennis elbow and symptomatic heel spurs.Material and methods. The study has covered to date 6 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (OFH) (stages I, II and III on the ARCO scale), 10 patients with tennis elbow (TE) and 6 patients with symptomatic heel spurs (HS). The patients were treated using focused shockwaves.Results. After treatment ended, pain intensity was noted to be statistically significantly lower in all groups of patients. In the OFH patients functional improvement could also be observed, as well as increased strength of wrist flexors and extensors and of finger flexors in the TE patients. The OFH and HS patients obtained better results in tests carried out on the tensometric platform. Conclusion. Focused shockwave is an effective and safe physical modality for treating early stages of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, tennis elbow and symptomatic calcaneal spurs; its main advantage is good analgesic effect right after treatment. However, the delayed effects of the therapy need to be investigated to confirm its effectiveness.

Key words:

focused shockwave, necrosis of the femoral head, tennis elbow, calcaneal spurz