Table 1.
Characteristics of the included RCTs
| References | Study design | Sample size | Gender (male) | Age (mean ± SD) | Intervention | Follow-up | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESWT | Control | ESWT | Control | ESWT | Control | |||||
| Notarnicola et al. [26] | RCT | 15 | 15 | – | – | 62.6 ± 11.8 | (range: 43.0–82.0) |
ESWT: Shockwaves of 2000 pulses in total were applied at 0.03 mj/mm2 and a frequency of 4 Hz/s, once per week for three sessions Control: Bridging exercise, adductor ball squeeze exercise, abdominal marching exercise and reverse curl-ups exercise (50 min), twice a week for 4 weeks |
12 weeks | |
| Kong et al. [31] | RCT | 100 | 100 | 60 | 60 | 44.45 ± 8.27 | 44.53 ± 8.19 |
ESWT: The impulse voltage is set as 7.0–9.0 kv, the impulse energy is 0.1–0.2 mj/mm2, and the times of shocks are set as 1200. ESWT was conducted usually for 1–2 courses, 5 times as 1 course Control: Laser therapeutic, once a week, with a total of 4 times |
1 year | |
| Jin et al. (2017) | RCT | 15 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 55.46 ± 15.09 | 53.13 ± 19.62 |
ESWT: With 2000 shock waves applied at each session at an intensity of 0.085–0.148 mj/mm2. We repeated this procedure a total of three times, at 3-day intervals Control: Trigger point injection |
4 weeks | |
| Eftekharsadat et al. [33] | RCT | 27 | 27 | 20 | 17 | 44.74 ± 9.34 | 45.04 ± 11.86 |
ESWT: Shockwaves of 1500 pulses with an energy flux density of 0.1 mj/mm2/min, energy level of 2–4, a frequency of 10–16 Hz, and pulse rate of 160/min in total, once a week for 5 weeks. Physical exercise: stretching exercises Control: Trigger point injection, muscle injection of 40 mg triamcinolone + 2 mL lidocaine 2%, one session. Physical exercise: stretching exercises |
4 weeks | |
| Han et al. [30] | RCT | 15 | 15 | 9 | 49.7 ± 8.3 | 46.0 ± 8.9 |
ESWT: Each patient assumed a prone position, and 1000 shock waves (7 times per sec) were applied at 2.5 Hz at low energy flux densities of 0.01–0.16 mj/mm2 using a 17 mm head. The treatment was conducted at the quadratus lumborum muscle and the sacroiliac joint, where the patients complained of pain Control: Bridging exercise, adductor ball squeeze exercise, abdominal marching exercise and reverse curl-ups exercise (50 min), twice a week for 4 weeks |
6 weeks | ||
| Walewicz et al. [25] | RCT | 20 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 51.1 ± 8.4 | 55.8 ± 9.3 |
ESWT: Shockwaves of 2000 pulses with the pressure of 2.5 bars (corresponding to an energy flux density of 0.1 mj/mm2), 5 Hz frequency, and treatment time of seven minutes; Physical exercise Control: Sham shockwaves therapy; Physical exercise |
12 weeks | |
| Rajfur et al. [27] | RCT | 19 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 43.0 ± 13.1 | 45.4 ± 14.0 |
ESWT: Shockwaves of 1000 pulses with an energy flux density of 0.15 mj/mm2/min, frequency 4 Hz, twice a week for 5 weeks. Physical exercise Control: Sham shockwaves therapy. Physical exercise |
12 weeks | |
| Elgendy et al. [28] | RCT | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 32.73 ± 6.73 | 33.26 ± 5.48 |
ESWT: 2000 shocks, 0.10 mj/mm2 energy, 5 Hz frequency, using a 17 mm head were administered, twice a week for 6 weeks. Stretching exercises were performed for the hamstrings, iliopsoas, and back extensors Control: Stretching exercises were performed for the hamstrings, iliopsoas, and back extensors |
6 weeks | |
| Taheri et al. [34] | RCT | 17 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 42.5 ± 10.1 | 37.1 ± 11.8 |
ESWT: Shockwaves of 1500 pulses in total were applied at 0.15 mj/mm2 and a frequency of 4 Hz/s, once a week for 4 weeks. Oral medications; stretching exercises Control: Sham shockwaves therapy; Oral medications; stretching exercises |
12 weeks | |
| Lee et al. [29] | RCT | 13 | 15 | 9 | 53.92 ± 10.38 | 54.33 ± 13.16 |
ESWT: Shockwaves of 2000 pulses in total were applied at 0.10 mj/mm2 and a frequency of 5 Hz/s, twice a week for 6 weeks; Williams’ exercises and McKenzie’s exercise Control: Hot packs, and ultrasound and electrotherapy; Williams’ exercises and McKenzie’s exercise |
6 weeks | ||
| Schneider [36] | RCT | 15 | 15 | – | – | 43.2 (range: 23–65) |
ESWT: Impulse parameters: 15–42 Hz; Myofascial trigger therapy, twice a week for 3 weeks Control: Myofascial trigger therapy, twice a week for 3 weeks |
12 weeks | ||
| Guo et al. [35] | RCT | 47 | 44 | 22 | 25 | 34.9 ± 8.7 | 36.0 ± 11.2 |
ESWT: 4000 pulses, 15 Hz, once a week for 4 weeks Control: Medication: celecoxib and eperisone |
12 weeks | |
ESWT extracorporeal shock wave therapy, SD standard deviation