Shockwave in the Management of ACL Injuries: A Clinical Perspective
Source abstract
Abstract
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common knee injuries sustained during sport. Following injury, only 65% of patients may return to their previous level of sport. Individuals who have suffered ACL injury are far more likely to develop post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee (PTOA). This suggests an unmet need for strategies to help advance return to play, reduce risk of PTOA, and provide additional options for pain management after ACL injury. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and radial pressure waves (RPW) are non-invasive treatment options that have been shown effective for treatment of a variety of orthopedic injuries. This perspective proposes the use of ESWT and RPW as treatment options during the peri-operative and post-operative management of ACL injuries, with the goal of modifying risk for PTOA. The available literature indicates that ESWT may have chondroprotective effects after ACL injury, and numerous clinical trials demonstrate the effectiveness of ESWT and RPW for orthopedic conditions including tendinopathy or bone marrow edema. Limited data and a lack of consensus on standardized rehabilitation protocols present gaps in the literature and emphasize the need for research leading to evidence-based recommendations for the use of ESWT and RPW to modify risk for the onset of PTOA after ACL injuries.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Tendon Structure and Treatment · Shoulder Injury and Treatment · Laser Applications in Dentistry and Medicine
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Faculty of Medicine, University of Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
Mayo Medical Clinic, Minneapolis, MN 55905, USA
Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
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