Santilli Gabriele, Ciccarelli Antonello, Martino Milvia, Pacini Patrizia, Agostini Francesco, Bernetti Andrea, Giuliani Luca, Del Gaudio Giovanni, Mangone Massimiliano, Colonna Vincenzo, Vetrano Mario, Vulpiani Maria Chiara, Stella Giulia, Taurone Samanta, Vigevano Federico, Cantisani Vito, Paoloni Marco, Fiore Pietro, Gimigliano Francesca
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", 00135 Rome, Italy.
Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Jan 21;10(1):39. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10010039.
Non-calcific supraspinatus tendinopathy (SNCCT) is a frequent cause of shoulder pain, often associated with functional impairment and reduced quality of life. Recent advancements in diagnostic imaging, including shear wave elastography (SWE), provide quantitative data on tendon stiffness and thickness, facilitating more precise evaluations. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as a minimally invasive and effective treatment for SNCCT, but its effects on tendon properties measured through SWE require further investigation. This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the impact of ESWT on supraspinatus tendon characteristics in patients with SNCCT by assessing tendon thickness, SWE velocity, and clinical outcomes. Methods: This observational study enrolled 39 patients with SNCCT, aged 30-75 years, who received three ESWT sessions over 3 weeks. The intervention was delivered using a Modulith SLK system at an energy level of 0.20 mJ/mm with 2400 pulses per session. SWE and conventional ultrasound were used to measure tendon thickness and SWEv at baseline (T0) and 6 months post-treatment (T1). Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Constant and Murley Score (CMS), and modified Roles and Maudsley scale. Data were analyzed using paired -tests and correlation analyses. At baseline, affected tendons exhibited increased thickness (7.5 ± 0.9 mm) and reduced SWEv (3.1 ± 0.7 m/s) compared to healthy tendons (4.5 ± 0.7 mm and 6.9 ± 1 m/s, respectively; < 0.05). Six months after ESWT, tendon thickness decreased significantly (6.2 ± 0.9 mm, < 0.05), and SWEv increased (5.7 ± 1.8 m/s, < 0.05), indicating improved elasticity. Clinical outcomes improved significantly, with the VAS scores decreasing from 6.5 ± 1.4 to 3.2 ± 2.1, the CMS score rising from 59.1 ± 17.3 to 78.2 ± 17.7, and the modified Roles and Maudsley scale improving from 2.3 ± 0.6 to 1.5 ± 0.8 ( < 0.05 for all). SWEv positively correlated with the CMS (r = 0.4) and negatively with the VAS and the modified Roles and Maudsley scale (r = -0.6 and r = -0.5, respectively). ESWT significantly reduces tendon thickness and enhances elasticity, correlating with improvements in pain and functional scores. SWE proved to be a reliable method for monitoring structural and clinical changes in SNCCT. Further research, including randomized controlled trials, is recommended to confirm these findings and explore longer-term outcomes.
非钙化性冈上肌腱病(SNCCT)是肩部疼痛的常见原因,常伴有功能障碍和生活质量下降。包括剪切波弹性成像(SWE)在内的诊断成像技术的最新进展提供了有关肌腱硬度和厚度的定量数据,有助于进行更精确的评估。体外冲击波疗法(ESWT)已成为治疗SNCCT的一种微创且有效的方法,但其对通过SWE测量的肌腱特性的影响仍需进一步研究。这项回顾性观察性研究旨在通过评估肌腱厚度、SWE速度和临床结果,来评估ESWT对SNCCT患者冈上肌腱特征的影响。方法:这项观察性研究纳入了39例年龄在30至75岁之间的SNCCT患者,他们在3周内接受了3次ESWT治疗。使用Modulith SLK系统进行干预,能量水平为0.20 mJ/mm,每次治疗2400个脉冲。在基线(T0)和治疗后6个月(T1)使用SWE和传统超声测量肌腱厚度和SWEv。使用视觉模拟量表(VAS)、Constant和Murley评分(CMS)以及改良的Roles和Maudsley量表评估临床结果。使用配对t检验和相关性分析对数据进行分析。在基线时,与健康肌腱(分别为4.5±0.7 mm和6.9±1 m/s)相比,患侧肌腱厚度增加(7.5±0.9 mm)且SWEv降低(3.1±0.7 m/s;P<0.05)。ESWT治疗6个月后,肌腱厚度显著降低(6.2±0.9 mm,P<0.05),SWEv增加(5.7±1.8 m/s,P<0.05),表明弹性有所改善。临床结果显著改善,VAS评分从6.5±1.4降至3.2±2.1,CMS评分从59.1±17.3升至78.2±17.7,改良的Roles和Maudsley量表从2.3±0.6改善至1.5±0.8(所有P<0.05)。SWEv与CMS呈正相关(r = 0.4),与VAS以及改良的Roles和Maudsley量表呈负相关(分别为r = -0.6和r = -0.5)。ESWT显著降低肌腱厚度并增强弹性,这与疼痛和功能评分的改善相关。SWE被证明是监测SNCCT结构和临床变化的可靠方法。建议进行进一步的研究,包括随机对照试验,以证实这些发现并探索长期结果。