Shock Wave Treatment in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis represents a significant health problem due to its impact on the functionality and quality of life of patients. Its treatment can be pharmacological, non-pharmacological, or surgical. Recently, the chondroprotective potential of shockwave therapy has been evidenced.

Objective: To determine whether shockwave treatment combined with knee strengthening exercises is superior to knee strengthening exercises alone in reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Method: A randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment is proposed. Patients with knee pain secondary to knee osteoarthritis will participate during their hospital admission. Two groups will be formed: both will follow an exercise program for three weeks, and the intervention group will add a weekly shockwave session during that same period.

The main variable will be pain intensity; other variables include stiffness, functional capacity, degree of satisfaction, and data related to the application of therapy (frequency, intensity, number of pulses, side effects). Clinical data will also be collected such as reason for admission, age, sex, comorbidities, degree of dependency, walking ability, analgesia, use of assistive devices, and progress during treatment.

Applicability: The results could lead to a change in clinical practice, serving as a basis for modifying treatment protocols for knee osteoarthritis in medium-stay hospitals. Furthermore, they would provide additional scientific evidence on the efficacy of shock wave therapy for this condition.