Session Information
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2019
Session Title: Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine Case Report
Session Time: 11:15am-12:45pm
Location: Research Hub - Kiosk 2
Disclosures: Matthew G. Mitchkash, MD: Nothing to disclose
Case Description: 23 runners with either proximal hamstring (n=18) or patellar tendinopathy (n=5) were treated with radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). All were recommended formal physical therapy or to continue a prior home exercise program specific to their condition. The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Hamstring (VISA-H) and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) are validated functional outcome measures for proximal hamstring tendinopathy and patellar tendinopathy, respectively. These outcome measures were administered at baseline and upon completion of treatment. For both VISA-H and VISA-P, there are established minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values, which provide reference for whether a change in score is clinically significant.
Setting: Outpatient Sports Medicine Clinic
Patient: 23 runners with either proximal hamstring (n=18) or patellar tendinopathy (n=5). 82.6% of this cohort had a reported injury duration greater than 3 months.
Assessment/Results: MCID in VISA-H scores (value = 22) and VISA-P scores (value = 13) were met in 50% of runners with proximal hamstring tendinopathy (mean change = 20.2) and 80% of runners with patellar tendinopathy (mean change = 34), respectively. Runners were advised to continue running as tolerated throughout treatment. There were no reported serious adverse events.
Discussion: Chronic proximal hamstring and patellar tendinopathies can be difficult injuries to treat in the running athlete. There are only a few published studies to date investigating the effectiveness of ESWT for proximal hamstring or patellar tendinopathy in athletes. Our results add to the growing literature demonstrating the efficacy of ESWT in improving the function of runners with proximal hamstring and patellar tendinopathy.
Conclusion: ESWT is a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment that may be considered for proximal hamstring tendinopathy and patellar tendinopathy in runners.
Level of Evidence: Level IV
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Mitchkash MG, Robinson D, Tenforde A. Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) on Functional Outcome Measures in Runners with Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy or Patellar Tendinopathy: A Case Series Review [abstract]. PM R. 2019; 11(S2)(suppl 2). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/efficacy-of-extracorporeal-shockwave-therapy-eswt-on-functional-outcome-measures-in-runners-with-proximal-hamstring-tendinopathy-or-patellar-tendinopathy-a-case-series-review/. Accessed May 22, 2025.« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2019
PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/efficacy-of-extracorporeal-shockwave-therapy-eswt-on-functional-outcome-measures-in-runners-with-proximal-hamstring-tendinopathy-or-patellar-tendinopathy-a-case-series-review/