Effects and setting of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with neck pain:
A scoping review
Article ID: 2025-008
Details
Article ID: 2025-008
Objective: Neck pain has a significant health and cost impact. The use of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) for neck pain relief has not been fully investigated. This scoping review aims to comprehensively investigate the effects and stimulation parameters of rESWT for neck pain.
Method: A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Embase, PEDro, and the Cochrane Library for publications up to August 2024. Studies using rESWT for neck pain were included, regardless of study design. Two independent authors screened the studies and extracted data.
Result: A total of 16 reports were included. Stimulation intensity ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 bar, 0.1 to 0.38 mJ/mm2, 60 mJ/m2 and 3 J/m2. Frequencies varied from 5 to 16 Hz, with a total of 200 to 2,000 shocks, and 1 to 8 treatment sessions reported. All reports showed improvements in neck pain.
Conclusion: Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy appears to be an effective method for alleviating neck pain. However, the parameters remain unclear due to variations across studies. Further investigation into parameter settings is needed for better management of neck pain.
