Shock-wave therapy is effective for chronic calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder

We report a prospective study of the effects of extracorporeal shock-wave t herapy in 195 patients with chronic calcifying tendinitis, In part A 80 pat ients with chronic symptoms were randomly assigned to a control and three s ubgroups which had different treatment by low-energy and high-energy shock waves. In part B 115 patients had either one or two high-energy sessions. W e recorded subjective, functional and radiological findings at six months a fter treatment. The results showed energy-dependent success, with relief of pain ranging fr om 5% in our control group up to 58% after two high-energy sessions, The Co nstant scores and the radiological disintegration of calcification were als o dose-dependent. Shockwave therapy should be considered for chronic pain due to calcific ten dinitis which is resistant to conservative treatment.