Key Takeaway
Adding ESWT to conventional physical therapy significantly improved functional disability even in severe (grade IV) knee osteoarthritis.
Summary
This randomized controlled trial examined whether adding extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) to conventional physical therapy improves outcomes in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.
Results showed significant functional improvements in the ESWT group compared to physical therapy alone, demonstrating that ESWT can benefit even advanced osteoarthritis cases.
Methods
- Randomized controlled trial design
- 60 patients with grade IV knee OA
- 8-week intervention period
- ESWT + PT vs PT alone
- Functional disability outcome measures
Key Results
- Significant functional improvement vs PT alone
- Benefits seen in severe (grade IV) OA
- Well-tolerated intervention
- Improvements in disability scores
Limitations
- Single-center study
- 8-week follow-up period
- Grade IV patients only
- Specific protocol may not generalize