The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of extracorporeal Shock wave therapy (ESWT) on functional activity and pain in patients with Achilles tendinopathy
Fifty patients of both sexes with Achilles tendinopathy aged 18-40 years, were assigned randomly into two equal groups. The study group received ESWT in addition to a conservative physical therapy program for four weeks, while the control group received a conservative physical therapy program only. Pain and functional mobility were assessed before and after treatment through a visual analog scale (VAS) and Victorian Institute of sports assessment - Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A), respectively
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
50
Each session of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy(ESWT) consists of 2000 pulses with a pressure of 3 bars (equals an energy flux density of 0.1 mJ/mm²), and treatment frequency of 8 pulses/sec
The patients were asked to stand with all their body weight on the injured leg on a wooden step. From an upright body position and standing with all body weight on the forefoot, with the ankle joint in plantar flexion. The calf muscle is loaded by having the patient lower the affected limb down by dorsiflexion the ankle until the plantar aspect of the heel lay below the level of the step, and the ankle is in maximum dorsiflexion.
Cairo university
Giza, Egypt
The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A).
It consists of eight questions that covered the three domains of pain (questions 1-3), function (questions 4-6), and activity (questions 7 and 8.). Questions one to seven are scored out of 10, and question 8 carries a maximum of 30. Scores are summed to give a total out of 100.
Time frame: 15 minutes
The visual analog scale (VAS).
The VAS is a continuous scale consists of a horizontal line (HVAS) usually 10 centimeters (10-100 mm) in length. For pain intensity, the scale is most anchored by no pain (score of 0) and pain as bad as it could be or worst imaginable pain (score of 10
Time frame: 15 minutes
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Stretching every muscle for 30 seconds. Each stretch was performed 3 times (holding for 30 seconds and rest for 30 seconds). All these stretches were performed directly after the eccentric exercises twice/day for 7 days/week for weeks