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Shockwave Therapy

Canine Hip Dysplasia: Reviewing the Evidence for Nonsurgical Management

Summary:

This systematic review of available evidence for nonsurgical management of hip dysplasia considered 14 articles and scored nonsurgical management including: activity restrictions, weight management, acupuncture, modulation of joint disease by polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, and extra corporeal shock wave therapy.

Conclusion:

“Weight management is an effective and important component of managing dogs with HD and associated osteoarthritis. Techniques that modulate the progression of joint disease may also be beneficial for treating dogs with HD. Further studies are needed to investigate other methods of managing HD such as hydrotherapy and physical rehabilitation.”

Author & Journal:Shaw, Kristin Kirkby et al, Veterinary Surgery, 2012
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Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of chronic tendinopathies.

Summary:

Many clinical trials have evaluated the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treating patients with chronic tendinosis of the supraspinatus, lateral epicondylitis, and plantar fasciitis. Although extracorporeal shock wave therapy has been reported to be effective in some trials, in others it was no more effective than placebo. The multiple variables associated with this therapy, such as the amount of energy delivered, the method of focusing the shock waves, frequency and timing of delivery, and whether or not anesthetics are used, makes comparing clinical trials difficult. Calcific tendinosis of the supraspinatus and plantar fasciitis have been successfully managed with extracorporeal shock wave therapy when nonsurgical management has failed.

Conclusion:

Results have been mixed in the management of lateral epicondylitis, however, and this therapy has not been effective in managing noncalcific tendinosis of the supraspinatus. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy has consistently been more effective with patient feedback, which enables directing the shock waves to the most painful area (clinical focusing), rather than with anatomic or image-guided focusing, which are used to direct the shock waveto an anatomic landmark or structure.

Author & Journal:Sems A, et al, J Am Acad Orthop Surg 14:195-204, 2006
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The evaluation of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in naturally occurring osteoarthritis of the stifle joint in dogs.

Summary:

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has expanded from the original uses of human urinary calculi treatment to veterinary orthopaedic applications. This paper investigates the feasibility and efficacy of treating dogs with osteoarthritis of the stifle joint with ESWT.

Conclusion:

The subjective data provided by client questionnaire did not show significant difference between groups.

Author & Journal:Dahlberg J, et al, Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 18(3): 147-52, 2005
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The effect of shock wave therapy on patellar ligament desmitis after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

Summary:

To determine if shock wave therapy (SWT) after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) has a beneficial effect on patellar ligament inflammation assessed by thickening of the ligament and ligament fiber disruption.

Conclusion:

Based on these results, SWT decreases the radiographic signs of patellar ligament desmitis.

Author & Journal:Gallagher A, et al, Vet Surg 41(4):482-485, 2012
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High energy focused shock wave therapy accelerates bone healing. A blinded, prospective, randomized canine clinical trial.

Summary:

To evaluate the influence of shock wave therapy (SWT) on radiographic evidence of bone healing after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO).

Conclusion:

Forty-two dogs (50 stifles) were included in the statistical analysis. No major complications were observed and all osteotomies healed uneventfully. The median healing scores were significantly higher at eight weeks postoperatively for the SWT group compared to the SHAM group for the 10-point (p <0.0002) and 5-point scoring systems (p <0.0001).

Author & Journal:Kieves NR, et al, VCOT. 2015:28:425-432
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Radial shock wave therapy in dogs with hip osteoarthritis.

Summary:

The study aims were to evaluate the effects of radial shock wave therapy (RSWT) in dogs with hip osteoarthritis (OA) using clinical assessment and kinetic analysis.

Conclusion:

Outcomes of this study suggested beneficial effects of RSWT in dogs with hip osteoarthritis.

Author & Journal:Souza AN, et al, Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2016;29(2):108-14
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Effects of radial shockwave therapy on the limb function of dogs with hip osteoarthritis.

Summary:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of extracorporeal radial shock wave therapy on the hindlimb function of dogssuffering from hip osteoarthritis.

Conclusion:

In the treated dogs, differences between the ground reaction forces exerted by the right and left hindlegs disappeared four weeks after the treatment, whereas in the control dogs only the peak vertical force distribution changed significantly. The significant improvement in the treated dogs was confirmed by changes in the symmetry indices. Significant improvements in vertical impulse and peak vertical force were observed three months after the treatment.

Author & Journal:Mueller M, et al, Vet Rec. 2007 Jun 2;160(22):762-5
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