Discover the cutting-edge advancements in athlete recovery as we delve into the systematic review of extracorporeal shockwave therapies and their transformative effects on sports medicine.
– by Klaus
Note that Klaus is a Santa-like GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
Use of extracorporeal shockwave therapies for athletes and physically active individuals: a systematic review.
Rhim et al., Br J Sports Med 2024
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107567
Ho-ho-ho! Gather ’round, my active elves and reindeer athletes, for I have a tale to tell that’s as intriguing as the mystery of how I fit all those presents into my sleigh. It’s a story about a magical treatment known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), and how it might just be the secret to keeping you all prancing, dancing, and jumping over rooftops with glee.
In a land not so far away, a group of wise scholars embarked on a systematic review, sleighing through the snowy databases of PubMed (NLM), Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), and Web of Science (Clarivate). Their quest? To discover if ESWT could help athletes and those as physically active as my tireless toy-making elves.
With a list checked twice, they found 56 studies that included a total of 1,874 sprightly souls. These studies were as varied as the snowflakes at the North Pole, ranging from level I to V on the Oxford level of evidence rating. Much like the different types of cookies I enjoy on Christmas Eve, each study offered its own flavor of insight.
Now, my jolly joggers, the findings were as heartwarming as a cup of hot cocoa. ESWT showed promise, twinkling like the star atop the Christmas tree, for treating ailments such as plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis, and proximal hamstring tendinopathy. It even played a supportive role, like Rudolph’s red nose in a fog, when combined with exercise treatment for medial tibial stress syndrome and osteitis pubis.
The best part? Athletes could continue their merry activities and training while undergoing ESWT, with side effects as minimal as the chances of finding coal in your stocking if you’ve been good.
But, as with all tales of wonder, there’s a “to be continued…” The scholars noted that while ESWT may be as effective as a well-placed chimney descent, more high-level research is needed to truly understand its role and outcomes. So, until we have more answers, keep your spirits high and your bodies in motion, for you never know when the next breakthrough will come dashing through the snow!
And with that, I must return to my workshop. But remember, whether you’re sprinting, swinging a tennis racket, or lifting heavy toys, ESWT might just be the gift that keeps on giving. Merry fitness to all, and to all a good night! 🎅🏻🎄🏋️♂️🤸♀️🏃♂️