Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
12 Trials, 632 Participants
SOURCE
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37355623/
REFERENCE
51
NICE
REFERENCE
123
organisation
PubMed
TITLE
Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
12 Trials, 632 Participants
SOURCE
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37355623/
DISC COMMENTARY
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled 12 randomised controlled trials involving 632 people to assess how well extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) works for chronic low back pain. It measured pain and function at 4 and 12 weeks.
What was studied?
The review compared ESWT against control treatment across the pooled trials, tracking pain and lumbar disability scores at 4 and 12 weeks, and recording any adverse events and mood outcomes reported.
What did they find?
ESWT produced a statistically significant improvement in pain at both 4 and 12 weeks, with a slightly smaller benefit later. Function also improved significantly at both points, no serious adverse events were reported, but mood measures showed no benefit.
Why it matters
Shock wave therapy is not just useful for tendon problems elsewhere in the body. It has a real, measurable benefit for chronic low back pain itself, for both pain and function, and appears safe.
Why we included it
It broadens the case for a treatment beyond its original use, showing that evidence built for one condition can extend to another when the underlying mechanism is genuinely relevant.
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What was studied?
The review compared ESWT against control treatment across the pooled trials, tracking pain and lumbar disability scores at 4 and 12 weeks, and recording any adverse events and mood outcomes reported.
What did they find?
ESWT produced a statistically significant improvement in pain at both 4 and 12 weeks, with a slightly smaller benefit later. Function also improved significantly at both points, no serious adverse events were reported, but mood measures showed no benefit.
Why it matters
Shock wave therapy is not just useful for tendon problems elsewhere in the body. It has a real, measurable benefit for chronic low back pain itself, for both pain and function, and appears safe.
Why we included it
It broadens the case for a treatment beyond its original use, showing that evidence built for one condition can extend to another when the underlying mechanism is genuinely relevant.